Biography

Father Adolfo Nicolás was born on April 29, 1936 in Palencia, Spain. His parents were Adolfo Nicolás Rico and Modesta Pachón The political turpitudes of that time in Spain forced his family to leave their region of origin and to move often. Adolfo spent a large part of his childhood in Barcelona. After thinking about a career in education among as a member of a congregation of Brothers, he was put in contact with the Jesuits by his brother and he attended a Jesuit school in Madrid.

He entered the novitiate in September 1953 in Aranjuez. During his philosophy, he responded to a call from the then General, Father Jansens, who invited Jesuits to volunteer for missions abroad. This is the origin of his vocation as a missionary in Japan.

He entered the novitiate in September 1953 …

He graduated in philosophy in Alcalá and Madrid, then went to Japan to learn the language and do his regency. He continued his theological studies in Tokyo where he was ordained a priest on March 17, 1967. He then completed a Master’s degree in Sacred Theology at the Gregorian University (Rome), and was Professor of Systematic Theology at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan.

29 April 1936
Born

Palencia, Spain

29 April 1936
15 September 1953
Enters the Noviciate

Aranjuez (Spain)

15 September 1953
1955–1958
Juniorate (Studies in Humanities)

Aranjuez (Spain)

1955–1958
1958–1960
Licence in Philosophy

Alcalá, Madrid

1958–1960
1960–1964
Language schools (English and Japanese)

Yokosuka

1960–1964
1964–1968
Studies in Theology

Tokyo, Japan

1964–1968
17 March 1967
Ordination to the priesthood

Tokyo, Japan

17 March 1967
1968–1971
Master in theology

Pontificia Università Gregoriana, Rome

1968–1971
1971–1978
Professor of Systematic Theology

Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan

1971–1978
1978–1984
Director of the EAPI (East Asian Pastoral Institute)

Manila, Philippines

1978–1984
1985–1993
Professor of Theology

Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan

1985–1993
1991–1993
Rector of the Scholasticate

Tokyo, Japan

1991–1993
1993–1999
Provincial

Province of Japan

1993–1999
1999–2004
Teaching Theology

Japan and Philippines

1999–2004
2004–2008
Moderator

Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania

2004–2008
2008–2016
Superior General

Society of Jesus

2008–2016
2016–2017
Spiritual Director

Arrupe International Residence, Manila, Philippines

2016–2017
2018–2020
Ministry of prayer

Loyola House, Tokyo, Japan

2018–2020
20 May 2020
Called to the Lord

Tokyo, Japan

20 May 2020

In 1978 and until 1984, he was appointed Director of the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. After years of service there, he returned to Japan and was rector of the scholasticate in Tokyo from 1991 to 1993.

It was then that he was chosen to be the Provincial of Japan, a position he held until 1999. In 1995, he participated in the 34th General Congregation; at the very beginning of the gathering, he was elected Secretary of the Congregation. A little later, from 2004 to 2007, he was chosen as moderator of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania, a position he held at the time when, during the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, he was elected Superior General on January 19, 2008.

Considering that his health no longer allowed him to carry out his mission as he should have, he convened the 36th General Congregation during which he offered his resignation, according to the rules of the Society of Jesus, on October 3, 2016. After having accepted it, the Congregation elected its successor, the current General, Fr. Arturo Sosa.

… he was elected Superior General on January 19, 2008.

Father Adolfo Nicolás died in Tokyo on May 20, 2020.