Luigi Fortis

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Luigi Fortis, S.J. (February 26, 1748 - January 27, 1829) was the twentieth Superior-General of the Society of Jesus. He was born in Verona, Italy. He was admitted into the provincial for the city of Venice in 1762, at the very young age of 14. He taught humanities at the University of Ferrara. When the Society Of Jesus was suppressed in 1767, Father Fortis became director of the College of Nobles at the request of Ferdinand, Duke of Parma. Fortis re-entered the Society in 1794 and became Provincial for Italy.

The 20th General Congregation (following the death of Father General Tadeusz Brzozowski) was held from October 9 to December 10, 1820. The toll taken by the long years of suppression and exile was made all too evident by the intrigue and turbulence marring the Congregation. The direct intervention of Pius VII was necessary to stop the quarrels over credentials and intrigues within the Roman Curia. The Congregation finally decided on Father Fortis.

The new Father General dedicated his short term of office to restoring the texture of Jesuit life as he had known it in the Old Society. His first act as general was to ask the Congregation to declare that not just the constitutions but all the legislation of the congregations and generals of the old Society remained in effect. The new Pope Leo XII granted Father Fortis this confirmation early in his papacy.

Father Fortis' letters to the whole Society describe in detail the customs which should regulate the life of the novitiates and scholasticates. One can still find little booklets from his time containing extracts from the letters of the Generals of the old Society with lists of the occasions on which they should be read aloud during meals. The principal achievement of Father Fortis and his generation of Jesuits lay in establishing beyond question the historical continuity of the restored Society with the Society founded by Ignatius that had existed until 1773.

After being General for eight years and three months he died in Rome on January 27, 1829. He was buried in the crypt of the Gesú.

Preceded by Tadeusz Brzozowski

Superior General of the Society of Jesus 1820 – 1829

Succeeded by Jan Roothaan

This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.