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The General Curia of the Jesuits in Rome announced yesterday that the former Superior General, Rev. Adolfo Nicolás, SJ, passed away on Wednesday, May 20 in Tokyo, Japan. The Jesuits in Japan and the Asia-Pacific Region, his family and compatriots in Spain, as well as his many friends around the world, deeply regret his loss.

Rev. Arturo Sosa, SJ, the present Superior General, expressed his sorrow and condolences in a public message on Wednesday:

“Fr. Nicolas gave of himself throughout his life. It was a life marked by intense service, serene availability and a profound ability to live inculturation in Japan, where he went as a young Jesuit. It was a culture that he loved very much and in which he invested himself. The period of his Generalate was marked by his sense of humour, courage, humility and his close relationship with Pope Francis. Due to current travel restrictions, I am unable to travel to Japan for the funeral, but I assure all his many friends there of my closeness, compassion and condolences.”
“All those who worked with Father Nicolás at the General Curia greatly appreciated his presence during his term as General. He will be greatly missed throughout the Society as a wise, humble and dedicated Jesuit, a man of grace and wisdom, simple, unpretentious,” Father Sosa also said.

The funeral of Father Adolfo Nicolás will take place in Tokyo on Saturday, May 23 at 5:00 p.m. at St. Ignatius Church. The celebration will be broadcast live, in English, on the internet.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated in Rome in the Church of the Gesù at a date to be determined. It will be available live on the General Curia’s YouTube channel.

Click here to learn more about the life of Father Adolfo Nicolás, SJ.

Submitted by: College Communications