Rome

A famous phrase on one of the vocation flyers reminds us that a Jesuit is “a student working and a worker studying.” Pope Leo XIV seems to have read the same flyer when he challenged thousands of students to “bring life into your studies and your studies into life” during the Holy Mass inaugurating the academic year of the Pontifical Universities on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at St Peter’s Basilica.

And speaking of collaboration and networking, it was almost as if the Pope had been consulting our Jesuit documents! He seemed to have borrowed a page straight from the 36th General Congregation (GC 36), which emphasised collaboration and networking as essential to our mission. In his homily, he urged us (students) to go beyond simply sitting next to one another from the same continent: to talk, listen, pray together, share experiences, and forge lifelong friendships. At this point, the AORians could only whisper: GC 36, anyone? See the work of the Holy Spirit – indeed, the mass was to invoke our God the Spirit!

For the AORians at Collegio Internazionale del Gesù, the Mass crowned several days of orientation in the community and at the university that began on September 30 with an opening Mass at the Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù, presided over by Bishop Anthony Corcoran, SJ, of Kyrgyzstan. The Arizona-born Jesuit had been consecrated a bishop the previous day at the Basilica San Paolo Fuori le Mura.

On Sunday, October 4, after lunch with the Delegate for Studies in Rome at the Biblicum, we visited Fr. Fratern Massawe, SJ, at the Curia. Happily, he was in good spirits and looked strong and lively. A visit expected to last ten minutes stretched into one or two hours. Apparently, the clock takes a break when Jesuits discuss themselves and Africa! We drew wisdom from him and concluded with prayer led by diacono Alvin Mulinge, SJ.

I would tell you more, but Rome is getting cold, and even theological reflection needs something warm!

Da Roma è tutto! Alla prossima!