Society of Jesus
Also known as Societas Iesu, S.J., SJ, Jesuits, Societas Jesu, M.P.H, S.I., SI
The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church. Headquartered in Rome, it was founded in 1540 by Ignatius of Loyola and six companions, with the approval of Pope Paul III. The Society of Jesus is the largest Catholic religious male order and has played a significant role in education, charity, humanitarian acts and global policies. Jesuits are engaged in evangelization and apostolic ministry in 112 countries, including education, research, and cult
AI overview
The Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, is the largest male religious order in the Catholic Church, founded in 1540 and headquartered in Rome. The order is notable for its significant contributions to education, charity, and humanitarian work, with Jesuits active in 112 countries around the world.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Organization.name
- Society of Jesus
- Organization.native_name_lang
- la
- Organization.image
- Ihs-logo.svg
- Organization.image_size
- 175px
- Organization.caption
- Christogram
- Organization.abbreviation
- S.J. or SJ
- Organization.nickname
- Jesuits
- Organization.type
- Order of clerics regular of pontifical right (for men)
- Organization.headquarters
- Generalate:Borgo S. Spirito 4, 00195 Prati, Rome, Italy
- Organization.region_served
- Worldwide
- Organization.num_members
- 13,768 (2025)
- Organization.leader_title
- Motto
~107 min read
Article
54 sectionsContents
- History
- Foundation
- Early works
- Expansion of the order
- Britain
- China
- Ireland
- Canada
- United States
- Ecuador
- Mexico
- Northern Spanish America
- Paraguay
- Philippines
- Colonial Brazil
- Suppression and restoration
- Early 20th century
- Post-Vatican II
- Ignatian spirituality
- Formation
- Governance of the society
- Statistics
- Habit and dress
- Controversies
- Slavery
- Power-seeking
- Political intrigue
- Casuistic justification
- Exclusion of those of Jewish or Muslim ancestry
- Theological debates
- Nazi persecution
- Rescue efforts during the Holocaust
- In science
- Notable members
- Gallery of Jesuit churches
- Institutions
- Educational institutions
- Social and development institutions
- Publications
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Citations
- Sources
- Further reading
- Surveys
- Specialized studies
- United States
- Primary sources
- In German
- External links
- Catholic Church documents
- Jesuit documents
- Other links
The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church. Headquartered in Rome, it was founded in 1540 by Ignatius of Loyola and six companions, with the approval of Pope Paul III. The Society of Jesus is the largest Catholic religious male order and has played a significant role in education, charity, humanitarian acts and global policies. Jesuits are engaged in evangelization and apostolic ministry in 112 countries, including education, research, and cultural pursuits. They also conduct retreats, minister in hospitals and parishes, sponsor direct social and humanitarian works, and promote ecumenical dialogue.
The Society of Jesus is consecrated under the patronage of Madonna della Strada, a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and it is led by a superior general. The headquarters of the society, its general curia, is in Rome. The historic curia of Ignatius is now part of the attached to the Church of the Gesù, the Jesuit mother church, also in Rome.
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