2026/14 – TO ALL MAJOR SUPERIORS

Dear Brothers in Christ

Our Third Apostolic Preference, given to us as a mission by Pope Francis in 2019 and confirmed by Pope Leo XIV, missions us to accompany young adults in their search for a hope- filled future. That search today is not an easy one. We are seeing a trampling on human rights, a disregard for our common home, the breakdown of international order, war and a recklessness about human life at all its stages.

In this context, we say to young people: “Courage. We are walking with you”. We hear their longing for peace and for justice and we admire their bravery and courage. We see youth in Myanmar, Iran, Lebanon, Ukraine, the USA, South Sudan, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Venezuela and so many other places courageously stepping forward to fight for change. We share their hopes and ideals. We want to journey with them towards a hope-filled future. To do this, we need to bring a new intensity, coherence and depth to our work. Answering this call will mean carrying the cross with Jesus as he walks to liberate his people.

Unique possibilities

In the Society of Jesus, we have unique possibilities to walk with young adults – possibilities that have been built up over centuries. Jesuits have opened schools and universities since the earliest days of the Society. Today, with our mission partners, we have contact on the ground with thousands of young people and a unique window into their lives. Our apostolates are privileged spaces of encounter with the young, and Ignatian spirituality finds a natural resonance in their daily lives. We believe in young people. We believe in their energy and their passion. We share many of their ideals and we admire their capacity to incarnate those ideals.

Dream again with and for young adults

In the Beatitudes Jesus tells us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled, that the peacemakers will be called children of God and that the merciful will have mercy shown them. In each of the Beatitudes, there is both call and promise; as men of the Beatitudes, we help to make those promises real. It is the Lord who calls us and He walks with us step by step. The destination is clear: a world where peace based on justice prevails and where reconciliation is the driving force.

Borgo Santo Spirito, 4 – 00193 Roma (Italia) | tel. (+39) 06 698 681 – fax (+39) 06 68 68 214 | curgen@sjcuria.org – www.jesuits.global

Hallmarks of authentic Ignatian Young Adult ministry

It is important that every young adult ministry of the Society of Jesus have a vocational element. This means that we help young people to see the Risen Jesus at work in their lives and notice where He is leading them. This is the primary hallmark of our young adult ministry. A further hallmark is sensitivity to the poor and a desire to build a more just society that anticipates the coming of the Kingdom. To this end, our programs should offer immersion and exchange experiences where young people from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds learn from and walk with each other. A third characteristic is the offer of community, so fundamental to our Christian and Jesuit commitment, which we freely make available to people of other religious backgrounds. In an age of increasing isolation and mental health challenges, this is a valuable antidote to the loneliness that many young adults feel.

Global Digital Culture – a new door

Just as missionaries in past decades left for far distant cultures, so too today, without necessarily leaving our own countries, we are called to bring the good news of hope and true liberation in the digital culture. The digital universe has its positives and negatives, its openness and its resistances to the gospel¹. Young people today are key protagonists in this rapidly evolving global digital culture. They hold the intellectual and cultural keys that can unlock the door to many digital possibilities. But they can also be vulnerable to some of the more negative dynamics of social media which can create a relational and soulless desert.

To accompany them in this very particular context we want to create ‘pathways to the soul’ by offering spiritual exercises, contact with different cultures and opportunities to appreciate literature, art, music and film. All of these experiences help us go deeper inside ourselves and discover who we really are and who we are called to be. Apps such as Pray As You Go in its various languages, Magis Digital Home in South Asia or AMDG in Spain already show the way. They teach us how digital outreach can reach beyond province boundaries and help young people move towards true liberation and redeemed humanity. To further develop these digital pathways, a working group was established in January of this year. A key first step will be to listen to the needs and hopes of young adults and a global survey is being created. Please make those working with young adults aware of this survey and ask them to encourage responses. The contact person at the General Curia is Mr Germán Muñoz (projectasst-he@sjcuria.org).

The Magis network and Magis 2027 South Korea

In these months, the Jesuits in Korea are preparing for Magis in July 2027 which takes place in the context of World Youth Day. The theme chosen is: “Living Hope and Igniting Peace” and registration will open in October or at latest November. Our hope is that about 1,000 young people from all around the world will participate in the Magis Korea event with many more participating in parallel events at Province or Conference level.

I ask each province or region to select carefully those young adults who will travel to Korea. Ideally, they will be people of spiritual depth and with strong leadership potential. We want them to return to their provinces and to transform the young adult ministry there. We can think of the example of Ignatius Loyola carefully selecting Francis Xavier, Peter Faber and his other companions in Paris, who subsequently went on to make a ground-breaking difference to the Church at the time. Imagine if a thousand young people return from Magis in Korea with fire in their hearts and a determination to help those who are on the margins. This will have a transformative impact on our young adult ministry.

To make this dream a reality, an experience of God is foundational. I therefore ask all provinces to start preparing for Magis Korea now by intensifying their efforts to offer the Exercises to young people. A new website (www. magisresources.org) gives practical resources. Ignatius had a genius for helping people to find God in their lives and, following his example, we want to do the same.

Various Magis initiatives have been growing over the years and, to ensure better sharing and communication, I have established a universal level Magis network. Each of the six conferences of Major Superiors has appointed a conference coordinator for Young Adult ministry and these in turn link with province coordinators. If your province does not already have such a coordinator, I encourage you to appoint someone. Fr John Dardis(dpa@sjcuria.org) is the link person. Accompanying young people is a responsibility to be shared. By working in partnership with each other, with lay people, dioceses, the Christian Life Community and religious congregations we can better respond to the diverse needs of youth.

The role of Younger Jesuits

Younger Jesuits – scholastics, young priests and brothers – have a particular role to play in the Society’s commitment to reaching young adults. They can do so either in a virtual or an in- presence manner. These younger Jesuits form part of a new generation, and they too are seekers and searchers. They join the Society because they have come to know Jesus Christ and want to bring change based on His message. I invite them to contribute their creativity, their spiritual depth and their digital skills to help us advance our work with young adults. I ask superiors of formation centres and formation coordinators in provinces to discern with scholastics and young brothers how they can help.

Don’t forget the poor

So often, when we think of young adults, we think of students in universities, third level colleges and institutes. However, we cannot have credible outreach to young people unless we include the very many young people who are impoverished by unjust economic situations or who are survivors of conflicts. Therefore, I have asked the organisers of Magis Korea to ensure that disadvantaged and marginalised young adults find a voice there. Their presence can offer a prophetic witness in a world that so often throws aside those who are economically disadvantaged. As a practical first step, I have asked JRS to select and form some young people from the migrant and refugee communities to send to Magis Korea. I encourage each province to attend to this important aspect of our planning for Korea.

Alumni

During January of this year, I had the opportunity to meet with the president of the World Union of Jesuit Alumni (WUJA). Members find inspiration in the Universal Apostolic Preferences, feel a sense of mission and wish to collaborate to make them real. Other student and alumni associations have a similar enthusiasm. Please share your hopes and plans for the third Universal Apostolic Preferences with alumni associations in your provinces and invite them to help with the planning and preparation of the Magis events in 2027.

Guided by the Holy Spirit we will move together to new frontiers

The Society of Jesus works across cultures and continents with an apostolic boldness that comes from the Spirit of the Risen Jesus. Our closeness to Him moves us beyond the closed doors of our fears and transforms us into people of courage, who bring healing and hope. Joined by so many young adults, we recognise Him with resurrection surprise in the breaking of bread and set out again, joyfully announcing His presence in a new and collaborative mission.

At this time of Pentecost, we once again place our hands into the hands of the Lord. Guided by His Spirit, we will speak the new languages of our cultures and go forward with passion to a hope-filled future. Together, we will move to new frontiers. Together, we will not be afraid of challenges but rather embrace them joyfully, knowing that frontier mission is at the heart of our Jesuit charism.

I ask you to share this letter with those who work with young adults in your Province, Region or Conference so that the various steps outlined can be taken forward.

Wishing each and every one of you the many and various gifts of the Spirit at this special time,

Your brother in the Lord,

Arturo Sosa, S.J.

Superior General

Sunday May 24^th 2026

Solemnity of Pentecost

¹ The recent report from the 3^rd post synod study group, entitled The Mission in the Digital Environment is a valuable reference point.