Jesuits in Japan on Saturday hailed the election of a new leader for the Roman Catholic order that brought Christianity to Japan and is seen as the modern-day church's most effective missionary force worldwide.
Jesuit leaders meeting in Rome elected for the first time a non-European to head the 16,700-strong team of priests and novices who serve as teachers, lawyers and supporters of the downtrodden in Japan and throughout the world.
The Rev. Arturo Sosa, a Venezuelan, takes the reins of the Society of Jesus at a time when Pope Francis, the first-ever Jesuit pope, has been reshaping church relations with non-Catholics and the economically marginalized.