It was time to elect a new "Black Pope." Since 1942, when Polish Father Vladimir Ledochowski died, the Society of Jesus had been without a General. By last week, almost all the 200 electors had assembled in Rome for the Society's 29th General Congregation.
The election followed a centuries-old formula. For four days electors were confined to the Society's headquarters at the Borgo Santo Spirito. When election day came, they attended a 5:30 Mass of the Holy Ghost, then, wearing their plain black robes, filed into the Hall of Elections. After an exhortation on the qualities most needed in the new General,...
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