14 November 2024
Bilbao Campus
The 14th of November is a historic date for the Society of Jesus. It celebrates the birth of Fr Pedro Arrupe, SJ (1907-1991), a universal Bilbao native who, with audacity and courage, directed the designs of the Society of Jesus during his time as General (1965-1983). The University of Deusto commemorated its 117th anniversary with a meeting that brought together students from Deusto who form part of the Arrupe Communities of young Ignatian students in Bilbao (Colegio Nuestra Señora de Begoña - Jesuitak Indautxu) and Durango (Colegio San José - Jesuitak Ikastetxea).
All of them, accompanied by the Rector Juan José Etxeberria and part of the Deusto Campus team, gathered in front of the sculpture of Pedro Arrupe which is located at the entrance to the walkway that also bears his name and which welcomes visitors to one of the busiest entrances to our campus. The simple act was followed by a meal in which they shared good experiences of their journey in the Arrupe Communities.
Furthermore, this year, five years after the opening session of the cause for the beatification and canonisation of Fr Arrupe, another equally historic day took place on 14 November with the celebration of the Closing Session of the diocesan process on the life, virtues, reputation for holiness and signs of the Servant of God. The ceremony, presided over by His Excellency Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, took place at midday in the Lateran Apostolic Palace, where the Lateran Pacts were signed in 1929 and the same place where the Opening Session of the cause was held on 5 February 2019. It was all in Rome, where Fr Arrupe had died 28 years earlier.
