On September 12th, the Pope received privately the fellow members of the country at the Embassy of the Holy See in Slovakia. During the meeting of about an hour and a half, the pope and the fellows had an unfettered dialogue, with questions and answers, and occasional jokes and words of encouragement were inserted.
(Vatican News Network)The 53 Jesuits from Slovakia greeted Pope Francis with a smile at the Holy See’s Embassy in Bratislava on the evening of September 12. As a Jesuit pope, it has become customary for the pope to meet with his fellow brothers in each pastoral visit. He listened to their questions and at the same time asked them some questions. In this period of secularization and declining vocations, the Pope encourages the priests to work hard to fulfill their mission.
The Pope’s conversation with the Slovak Jesuits lasted an hour and a half. Fr Jozef Bartkovjak, a special commissioner of the Vatican Radio-Vatican News Network and head of the Slovak language department, described the situation at the time. He said that the meeting was “smoothly going on in a peaceful atmosphere, and it was a family meeting.” Father Baltkojak said, “We listen to the Pope’s words, and we can tell him our desires and the work we are doing”.
There are 80 Jesuits in Slovakia. The Pope encouraged the participants to continue their different missions in the country. He especially emphasized their education and nurturing work through a seminary and two sanctuary institutions. Even in the dark years of the communist regime, these two institutions did not stop functioning. Today, under the influence of the new crown epidemic, as well as the secularization, population and vocations in Europe as a whole, the Pope’s encouragement is extremely important.
Father Baltkojak, who is also a Jesuit, said that we now have new challenges before us, but “we are inspired by the Pope. He makes us truly feel his presence. He praises what we have done amidst all the difficulties. Work. The Pope helps us not to lose our courage”. Father Bartkojak emphasized, “In fact, every Jesuit who associates his mission with that of Peter’s heir will realize that his identity has been strengthened.” The Pope’s interview with the Jesuits took place in an unfettered family atmosphere, without the presence of the media. This meeting ended with a group photo.
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