Peter Hans Kolvenbach

From Freepedia

The Very Reverend Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, SJ (born in Druten, November 30, 1928), is the 29th and current Superior General of the Society of Jesus, the largest religious order of the Roman Catholic Church.

Father Kolvenbach's childhood took place in Druten, the Netherlands, near Nijmegen where he attended Canisius College for his secondary studies. At Canisius he concentrated on modern languages. He entered the Jesuit novitiate at Mariendaal on September 7, 1948. After completing philosophy studies at Berchmans Institute in Nijmegen, he was assigned to Lebanon, where he completed his doctorate in Sacred Theology at St. Joseph's University in Beirut. Soon after in 1961 he was ordained a priest.

The next years of his life were spent in academia, specifically in linguistics. From the period of 1963 to 1976 he taught general and Oriental linguistics at La Haye, Paris, and Beirut. Eventually he was appointed Professor of General Linguistics at St. Joseph's University and served in that capacity until 1981, when he became rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute. During his time on the faculty of St. Joseph's, he also served as provincial superior of the Jesuit vice-province of the Middle East.

During the 33rd General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, which was summoned to receive the resignation of Father Pedro Arrupe, he was elected Superior General. His election took place on September 13, 1983.