Adolfo Nicolás SJ, 1936–2020

Adolfo Nicolás Pachón SJ was the 30th Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was born in Palencia, Spain on 29 April 1936 and entered the Jesuit novitiate of Aranjuez in 1953. In 1960, he was sent to Japan, beginning his life as a missionary in Asia. He was ordained to the priesthood on 17 March 1967 in Tokyo. Prior to being elected Superior General, Fr Nicolás served as Moderator of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania from 2004 to 2007; Jesuit Provincial of Japan from 1993 to 1999; and Director of the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila from 1978 to 1984. Considering that his health no longer allowed him to carry out his mission, he resigned as Superior General at the 36th General Congregation. He returned to the Philippines in 2017 then, finally, to Japan in 2018. Fr Nicolás died in Tokyo on 20 May 2020 at the age of 84.