Interview with Fr. Arrupe at Puebla
Abstract
The 1979 Latin American Episcopal Conference in Puebla, Mexico, marked a pivotal moment for the Church in Latin America—and for the Society of Jesus. In this historic interview with journalists, Fr. Pedro Arrupe, then Superior General of the Society of Jesus, reflects on the challenges and responsibilities the Society faces in light of the Latin American Bishops' gathering at Puebla.
His insights cover a broad range of pressing topics: serving the Church wholeheartedly in close collaboration with the Roman Pontiff, the role of Jesuits in El Salvador, the possibilities and risks of “horizontalism” within the Church, the role of Religious in Latin America, and the Church’s response to heresy, violence, and mass media influence. He also discusses the role of women in the world, the increasing involvement of Jesuits throughout Latin America, and the accusations against some Jesuits as proponents of Marxist ideology.
This interview is more than a historical account; it is a vision for a Church firmly grounded in the Gospel and dedicated to social transformation.
