ROME — The sainthood cause of Jesuit Father Pedro Arrupe was
formally opened in Rome at the Basilica of St. John Lateran Feb. 5, the 28th
anniversary of Father Arrupe's death.
The cause of Father Arrupe, superior general of the Jesuits from
1965 to 1983, was set in motion by the Diocese of Rome, the diocese where the
former superior general died in 1991.
The formal process of beatification and canonization includes
compiling the priest's writings and gathering sworn testimonies about his life
and holiness. Once the Jesuit postulator had the list of potential witnesses
and had collected the writings, the formal opening of Father Arrupe's sainthood
cause — the diocesan inquiry — could begin.
The documentation from the diocesan inquiry will be sent to the
Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes, which reviews the gathered information.
If he is found to have led a heroic life of Christian virtues, the church
bestows the title "venerable."
The next steps would be beatification and canonization. In
general, two miracles determined to have occurred through the candidate's
intercession are needed for sainthood — one for beatification and the second
for canonization.
Cardinal Angelo de Donatis, vicar of Rome, presided at the
ceremony Feb. 5, formally opening the diocesan inquiry.
He said Father Arrupe was firmly "rooted in Christ, whom he
passionately loved and, with courageous faith, he let himself be guided in his
journey by the wisdom and freedom that comes from the Holy Spirit."
"He was a true man of God" and of the church by seeking
"to integrate the best values from tradition with those necessary for
adapting Christianity to new times" in accordance with the teachings of
the Second Vatican Council, Cardinal de Donatis said.
He was also "rich" in such treasured qualities as the
ability to listen, understand, respect, help and trust others, teaching many
how to become "men and women for others," said the cardinal.
Born in Spain in 1907, Father Arrupe entered the Society of Jesus
in 1927. Following the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain in 1932, he
continued his studies in Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States. After
ordination, he was sent to Japan in 1938.
According to the U.S. website of the Jesuits, Father Arrupe was
serving in a Japanese mission outside of Hiroshima when the United States
dropped the atomic bomb there in 1945. The Jesuit priest, who studied medicine
before entering the society, and several companions "were able to give aid
to 150 victims."
In 1965, Father Arrupe was elected superior general of the
Society of Jesus.
Father Arrupe worked to help Jesuits rediscover the Spiritual
Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and the method of personal discernment and
discernment in common helped the Jesuits renew their life, vows, community and
mission.
He also established the Jesuit Refugee Service, which today
serves refugees and other forcibly displaced persons in 52 countries.
Upon returning to Rome from a trip in Asia in 1981, he suffered a
stroke. He resigned in 1983 and died in Rome Feb. 5, 1991.