Editing Jesuits (section)

==Governance of the society==
The society is headed by a [[Superior General of the Society of Jesus|Superior General]], with the formal title ''Praepositus Generalis'', Latin for "provost-general", more commonly called Father General. He is elected by the General Congregation for life or until he resigns. He is confirmed by the pope and has absolute authority in running the Society. The Superior General of the Jesuits is the Venezuelan [[Arturo Sosa]], who was elected in October 2016.<ref name="Curia">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sjweb.info/curiafrgen/curia_home.cfm |title=Father General's House |website=www.sjweb.info |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519065411/http://www.sjweb.info/curiafrgen/curia_home.cfm |archive-date=19 May 2017 }}</ref>

The Father General is assisted by "assistants". Four are "assistants for provident care" and serve as general advisors and a sort of inner council. Regional assistants head an "assistancy", which is either a geographic area, for instance the North American Assistancy, or an area of ministry, such as higher education. The assistants normally reside with the Father General in Rome and along with others form an advisory council to the General. A vicar general and secretary of the society run day-to-day administration. The General is required to have an [[admonitor]], a confidential advisor whose task is to warn the General honestly and confidentially when he might be acting imprudently or contrary to the church's [[magisterium]]. The central staff of the General is known as the Curia.<ref name="Curia" />

The society is divided into geographic areas called provinces. Each is headed by a Provincial Superior, formally called Father Provincial, chosen by the Superior General. He has authority over all Jesuits and ministries in his area, and is assisted by a ''socius'' who acts as a sort of secretary and chief of staff. With the approval of the Superior General, the Provincial Superior appoints a novice master and a master of tertians to oversee formation, and rectors of local communities of Jesuits.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sjweb.info/resources/usa.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516082921/http://sjweb.info/resources/usa.cfm |archive-date=16 May 2008 |title=USA Assistancy |website=SJWeb.info |access-date=30 May 2017 }}</ref> For better cooperation and apostolic efficacy on each continent, the Jesuit provinces are grouped into six [[Jesuit Conference]]s worldwide.

Each Jesuit community within a province is normally headed by a rector. He is assisted by a "minister", from the Latin word for "servant", a priest who helps oversee the community's day-to-day needs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.scu.edu/jst/about/society-of-jesus/the-jesuit-community-at-jst/ |title=The Jesuit Community at JST – Jesuit School of Theology – Santa Clara University |website=www.scu.edu |access-date=1 October 2019 |archive-date=1 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001172255/https://www.scu.edu/jst/about/society-of-jesus/the-jesuit-community-at-jst/ }}</ref>

The General Congregation is a meeting of all of the assistants, provincials, and additional representatives who are elected by the professed Jesuits of each province. It meets irregularly and rarely, normally to elect a new superior general or to take up some major policy issues for the order. The Superior General meets more regularly with smaller councils composed of just the provincials.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://jesuits.org/gc |title=General Congregation: purpose, delegates, ... |website=jesuits.org |access-date=1 October 2019 |archive-date=1 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001172300/http://jesuits.org/gc }}</ref>