Superior Generals of the Society of Jesus

The Society of Jesus—much like “all well-organized communities or congregations”—appoints a person “whose proper duty,” according to the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus, “is to attend to the universal good.” For the Jesuits in particular, the superior general’s “duty is the good government, preservation, and growth of the whole body of the Society.” (Rather than militaristic in tone, the name “Superior General” or “Father General” connotes the general or broad responsibilities of the position.) The qualities desired in a superior general appear Part IX of the Constitutions, the selection included in the Portal’s Essential Documents.
In nearly 500 years, there have only been 31 men who have served as the superior general of the Society of Jesus. 

Some facts about the 31 fathers general:
— At the time of their election, the men averaged more than 38 years of service in the Society. Since the restoration, that average has been 41 years.
— The generals were an average of 58 years old at the time of their election; three were 70 or older upon election.

Below are more details for those men (with two others serving as the Superior General for the Society of Jesus in Russia in the years preceding the order’s restoration in 1814).
For more on the rationale for the position of the father general, please consult Antonio de Aldama’s The Constitutions of the Society of Jesus: The Superior General, Notes for a Commentary.

wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at id N. Name Place of Birth Date of Birth Date Generalate Began Age at Election Years in the Society at Election Position in the Society at Election Date Generalate Ended Duration of Generalate, in Days Place of Death Date of Death Other Details
1 1 1 Ignatius de Loyola Loyola, Spain c. 1491 April 19, 1541 50 < 1 — July 31, 1556 5,582 Rome July 31, 1556 Also known as Iñigo Lopez de Oñaz y Loyola Canonized: March 12, 1622
2 2 2 Diego Laínez Almazán, Spain 1512 July 2, 1558 46 17 Provincial of the Italian Province January 19, 1565 2,293 Rome January 19, 1565 Also known as Diego Laynez
3 3 3 Francis Borgia Gandía, Spain October, 28, 1510 July 2, 1565 55 19 Spanish and Portuguese Assistant, Rome October 1, 1572 2,648 Rome September 20, 1572 Canonized: June 20, 1670
4 4 4 Everard Mercurian Marcourt, Belgium 1514 April 23, 1573 59 25 German Assistant, Rome August 1, 1580 2,657 Rome August 1, 1580
5 5 5 Claudio Aquaviva Atri, Italy September 14, 1543 February 19, 1581 37 14 Provincial of the Roman Province January 31, 1615 12,399 Rome January 31, 1615 Also known as Claudio Acquaviva
6 6 6 Muzio Vitelleschi Rome, Italy December 2, 1563 November 15, 1615 51 32 Italian Assistant, Rome February 9, 1645 10,679 Rome February 9, 1645 Also known as Mutio Vitelleschi
7 7 7 Vincenzo Carafa Andria, Italy May 9, 1585 January 7, 1646 60 42 Rector of the Roman College, Rome June 8, 1649 1,248 Rome June 8, 1649 Also known as Vincenzo Carrafa
8 8 8 Francesco Piccolomini Siena, Italy October 12, 1582 December 21, 1649 67 49 Professor of Philosophy at the Roman College, Rome June 17, 1651 543 Rome June 17, 1651
9 9 9 Luigi Gottifredi Rome, Italy May 3, 1595 January 21, 1652 56 43 Secretary of the Society, Rome March 12, 1652 51 Rome March 12, 1652
10 10 10 Goswin Nickel Koslar, Germany (North Rhine-Westfalia) May 1, 1582 March 17, 1652 70 48 German Assistant, Rome July 31, 1664 4,519 Rome July 31, 1664
N. Name
wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at id N. Name Place of Birth Date of Birth Date Generalate Began Age at Election Years in the Society at Election Position in the Society at Election Date Generalate Ended Duration of Generalate, in Days Place of Death Date of Death Other Details
1 1 1 Ignatius de Loyola Loyola, Spain c. 1491 April 19, 1541 50 < 1 — July 31, 1556 5,582 Rome July 31, 1556 Also known as Iñigo Lopez de Oñaz y Loyola Canonized: March 12, 1622
2 2 2 Diego Laínez Almazán, Spain 1512 July 2, 1558 46 17 Provincial of the Italian Province January 19, 1565 2,293 Rome January 19, 1565 Also known as Diego Laynez
3 3 3 Francis Borgia Gandía, Spain October, 28, 1510 July 2, 1565 55 19 Spanish and Portuguese Assistant, Rome October 1, 1572 2,648 Rome September 20, 1572 Canonized: June 20, 1670
4 4 4 Everard Mercurian Marcourt, Belgium 1514 April 23, 1573 59 25 German Assistant, Rome August 1, 1580 2,657 Rome August 1, 1580
5 5 5 Claudio Aquaviva Atri, Italy September 14, 1543 February 19, 1581 37 14 Provincial of the Roman Province January 31, 1615 12,399 Rome January 31, 1615 Also known as Claudio Acquaviva
6 6 6 Muzio Vitelleschi Rome, Italy December 2, 1563 November 15, 1615 51 32 Italian Assistant, Rome February 9, 1645 10,679 Rome February 9, 1645 Also known as Mutio Vitelleschi
7 7 7 Vincenzo Carafa Andria, Italy May 9, 1585 January 7, 1646 60 42 Rector of the Roman College, Rome June 8, 1649 1,248 Rome June 8, 1649 Also known as Vincenzo Carrafa
8 8 8 Francesco Piccolomini Siena, Italy October 12, 1582 December 21, 1649 67 49 Professor of Philosophy at the Roman College, Rome June 17, 1651 543 Rome June 17, 1651
9 9 9 Luigi Gottifredi Rome, Italy May 3, 1595 January 21, 1652 56 43 Secretary of the Society, Rome March 12, 1652 51 Rome March 12, 1652
10 10 10 Goswin Nickel Koslar, Germany (North Rhine-Westfalia) May 1, 1582 March 17, 1652 70 48 German Assistant, Rome July 31, 1664 4,519 Rome July 31, 1664
N. Name
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