Philippines

Interest in Jesuits up thanks to pope, Philippine priest says

In US, Jesuit novitiates report doubling in number of young men applying to enter

Published: June 06, 2016 05:32 AM GMT

Updated: June 06, 2016 05:36 AM GMT

More people, particularly the youth are discovering their growing attraction to St. Ignatius de Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, primarily because of the popularity of Pope Francis.

"There is real interest in St. Ignatius brought about by the wonderful work of Pope Francis," explained Jesuit Communications head Father Emmanuel Alfonso in a recent press conference about "Ignacio de Loyola," a biopic telling part of the Jesuit founder's life story.

"That comes from the power of the Gospel that is Pope Francis," said Father Alfonso, who was with JesCom creative director Pauline Mangilog-Saltarin, the film's director Paolo Dy, and lead actor Andreas Munoz during the press briefing.

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According to Father Alfonso, the fact that in the U.S. alone Jesuit novitiates report a doubling in the number of young men applying to enter the congregation validates the so-called Pope Francis effect.

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