Pope Francis and Fr. Sosa Celebrate 400th Anniversary of Canonization of Ignatius and Xavier
Saturday, March 12, 2022
Pope Francis concelebrated Mass with Father Arturo Sosa, Superior General of the Society of Jesus on March 12, 2022 at the mother church of the Jesuit order in Rome, the Church of the Gesù. Together, they marked the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the canonization of Saints Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, Philip Neri, and Isidore the Farmer.
At the conclusion of the Mass a brief ceremony took place in the chapel of St Ignatius. In the presence of relics of the five saints whose anniversary was being celebrated, the leaders of their communities thanked God for the gift of their sanctity.
The service concluded with the prayer:
O Lord, in your saints Isidore the Farmer, Ignatius of Loyola,
Francis Xavier, Teresa of Jesus, and Philip Neri,
grant us the courage of the humble,
the boldness of those who trust,
the simplicity of the poor in spirit,
and the passion of soldiers who are disarmed,
that we may allow you to triumph
and to guide your Church and the world
to a new Pentecost of grace and peace, of communion.In these times of pandemic, of war,
but also of hope, make us saints,
as you wish and desire.
May your holy will be done, always and in each of us.
Photo credit: Stefania Casellato Stefania Casellato