Luigi Fortis


Very Rev. Luigi Fortis, S.J. was an Italian Jesuit elected the twentieth Superior-General of the Society of Jesus.

Early life and formation

Fortis joined the Jesuits in 1762 after studying at the San Sebastian High School of Verona: he was only 14 years old. He did his philosophical studies at Bologna and was busy teaching humanities at the University of Ferrara when the Society of Jesus was suppressed in 1773.

Ex-Jesuit

After the suppression Fortis returned to his home town of Verona where he got employment as a private Mathematics teacher. He pursued however his desire to become a priest and was ordained so in 1778. In 1784 he established contacts with the Jesuits of Russia but was advised to stay in Italy where there was greater need of his services. In 1793 he passed into the Duchy of Parma where the Jesuits had obtained re-entry, and he renewed his vows as a Jesuit. For a few years he taught Physics and History at the College of the Nobles of Parma. With the invasion of Parma by the French army in 1804 he was again a refugee, this time in Naples where the Society had been restored. His teaching in the newly opened college of Naples did not last as, with the arrival of José Napoleon, the Jesuits were again expelled from Naples. Fortis went to Orvieto and then returned to his home town, Verona. Wherever he could he was a teacher of Poetry, Mathematics, Philosophy and Logic.

Restoration

Soon after the universal restoration of the Society Fortis was made provincial of the Jesuits in the Italian peninsula and representative of the Superior General, Tadeusz Brzozowski, as the latter was not allowed by the czar to leave Russia.

20th General Congregation

The 20th General Congregation 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 elected Luigi Fortis as Superior General. Beside electing Fortis the Congregation's concern was to reassert without ambiguity that this was the same Society of Jesus as founded by St. Ignatius: it declared that not just the Constitutions, their Declarations, the various 'rules' but all the legislation of the previous congregations and letters of Generals of the old Society remained in effect. The new Pope Leo XII granted Father Fortis this confirmation early in his papacy. There were around 1200 Jesuits, in 6 provinces, at that time.

Superior General

After being Superior General for eight years and three months he died in Rome on January 27, 1829. He was buried in the crypt of the Gesú. By then the Society had already 2100 members in 9 provinces.