Last week Pope Francis finally filled an important Vatican post that has remained vacant since June 2017. The Holy Father named Fr Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves as the new prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy. The Spanish priest succeeded Cardinal George Pell, who took leave of absence two years ago to face abuse charges in Australia.
The appointment is notable for two reasons. First, Fr Guerrero is a low-profile figure compared with Cardinal Pell. Second, he is a Jesuit. Some commentators on social media claimed that his nomination was a sign that the Society of Jesus, under the first Jesuit pope, is now exercising unprecedented influence. Is this true?
Those who advance this argument can point to a number of major appointments in recent years. In 2017, Pope Francis named Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, another Spanish Jesuit, as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). A year later, Jesuit Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg became president of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU (Comece). And last month, the Pope raised three Jesuits to the rank of cardinal: Fr Michael Czerny, under secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Lithuanian Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius and Archbishop Hollerich.
While these are all significant personnel moves, it is hard to argue that they are part of a conscious effort to extend the influence of the Society of Jesus. Archbishop Ladaria was already a senior CDF official and the obvious replacement for outgoing doctrinal czar Cardinal Gerhard Müller. Archbishop Hollerich was elected by fellow European bishops, rather than the Pope, and the October consistory was exceptional: Francis has named few Jesuits to the College of Cardinals since his election in 2013.
As the Jesuits belong to the world’s largest religious order, it is hardly surprising that they occupy some of the Church’s most senior positions. But we should be careful not to echo (however unconsciously) age-old conspiracy theories about Jesuits plotting to achieve world domination. Today we laugh about claims that the Jesuits shot Abraham Lincoln, started World War I and sank the Titanic. But similar theories have caused great harm to Catholics in England, the United States and elsewhere, and we should be wary of giving new life to them.
Why might Francis have turned to a fellow Jesuit to run the Secretariat for the Economy? Probably for the mundane reason that his contacts within the order recommended Fr Guerrero as a trustworthy figure with a good track record (he has overseen the administration and budgets of such institutions as the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Oriental Institute, the Vatican Observatory, and Vatican Radio).
The Pope reportedly agreed with the Jesuit superior general Fr Arturo Sosa that Fr Guerrero should not be made a cardinal and would return to work for the Society of Jesus when his term ends. So Fr Guerrero will not become part of a supposed Jesuit bloc within the Sacred College.
There is another important factor restraining Jesuit influence within the global Church: a sharp decline in numbers. In 1977, the Society had 28,038 members (20,205 of whom were priests). In 2018, the order had just 15,842 men (including 11,389 priests). This represents a 43 per cent decline over four decades. The Society’s presence is shrinking in Europe, the US and Latin America, the regions that produce many of the Church’s senior leaders.
There is as yet little evidence of a “Francis effect” on Jesuit vocations. Perhaps this will emerge in the coming years. But if current trends continue, the Society of Jesus will be a waning force. Fr Sosa reportedly expects numbers to to fall by a third, to 10,000, by 2034.
Meanwhile, we wish Fr Guerrero well. Even such a formidable man as Cardinal Pell was unable to shed light on all areas of the Vatican’s finances. The Secretariat for the Economy’s powers have been significantly trimmed and another Vatican financial reformer, René Brülhart, resigned this week. We trust that Fr Guerrero will be able to call upon the full support of his fellow Jesuit Pope Francis if he too finds himself blocked by opponents of reform.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.