Obedience of a religious

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Margaret_Ann

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I’ve been racking my brain about this and can’t come up with a good answer to this question:

Since Pope Francis is a Jesuit, does he have to obey the Superior General of the Jesuits or does the Superior General have to obey him? I would think the latter but am not sure.

Any information is much appreciated.

Thank you in advance!
 
When a religious is made a bishop, he isn’t technically subject to his order anymore, but still bears the postnominal initials and, as applicable, the habit of his order as a sort of honorific.

-Fr ACEGC
 
The entire Jesuit order owes aliegence to the Pope. Period.
The “superior” of the order is the pope.
 
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Remember that the Pope can suppress a religious order if he thinks that’s best. The Jesuits were already suppressed once by Pope Clement IV. Although it’s unlikely Pope Francis would suppress them again, he technically could.
 
Yes but technically they do have a Superior General. Fr. Sosa.
 
The Jesuits are an “exempt” order, answering only to their Father General, and not to local bishops (unless engaged in a diocesan function).

That said, their Father General answers DIRECTLY to the Pope . . .

And note that the Jesuit “fourth vow”, which not all take but the class of priests in leadership roles do, is about obedience to the Pope . . .
 
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