By Markus Budiraharjo
Jesuit Superior General Father Arturo Sosa, SJ, called on Jesuit alumni worldwide to help shape the ethical development of artificial intelligence and defend human dignity amid rapid technological and social change.
Sosa made the appeal during the 11th World Union of Jesuit Alumni Congress, held from July 29 to Aug. 2 at Sanata Dharma University in Yogyakarta.
The gathering brought together at least 1,000 Jesuit alumni, educators, and partners from around the world under the theme “United in Spirit, Leading with Purpose.”
Sosa urged alumni to renew their commitment as “companions in mission,” saying their identity extended beyond the education they received in Jesuit institutions.
He said being a Jesuit alumnus carried a lifelong responsibility to promote justice, reconciliation, and the common good.
A central part of his keynote address focused on the rapid development of artificial intelligence, which he described as one of today’s “new frontiers.”
Citing the Vatican document Magnifica Humanitas, released in May 2026, Sosa said technological innovation must remain at the service of the human person.
“Human beings must never become merely instruments or objects of technology,” he said.
Sosa urged Jesuit alumni to contribute to the ethical development and responsible governance of artificial intelligence.
He called on them to oppose algorithmic discrimination, defend the dignity of workers affected by digital transformation, and preserve values that technology cannot replace, including love, friendship, freedom, and conscience.
The Jesuit leader also reaffirmed the Universal Apostolic Preferences for 2019 to 2029 as the common framework guiding the mission of the Society of Jesus and its collaborators worldwide.
The four priorities are showing the way to God through discernment and the Spiritual Exercises, walking with the excluded, accompanying young people in creating a hope-filled future, and collaborating in the care of the common home.
Sosa said the priorities were interconnected and must be rooted in an authentic spiritual life.
“Without prayer and discernment,” he said, “our pastoral and social initiatives risk becoming little more than programs, losing their transformative power.”
Addressing growing polarization, conflict, and declining trust, Sosa challenged Jesuit alumni to become bridge-builders in their communities.
He described synodality as the Church’s way of journeying together through mutual listening, openness to the Holy Spirit, and collaboration across cultures, generations, and professions.
Within this vision, he said, the vocation of laypeople was not secondary but an essential and irreplaceable participation in the mission of Christ.
Sosa also reflected on the 40th anniversary of Characteristics of Jesuit Education, describing the document as a continuing source of inspiration for Jesuit schools and universities worldwide.
“The success of Jesuit education is measured not by the prestige of its institutions, but by the quality of the women and men they form,” he said.
He said Jesuit education should form graduates who combine professional competence with a well-formed conscience, compassionate hearts, and a lasting commitment to justice and service.
The congress also focused on translating Ignatian spirituality into practical action in response to climate change, sustainable development, social injustice, and conflict.
Participants discussed how Jesuit alumni could work with educational institutions and communities to support the mission of the Church.
The gathering also sought to strengthen the global Jesuit alumni network through mentorship, leadership development, and greater involvement by younger alumni.
By encouraging collaboration across generations, the congress aimed to renew the Ignatian spirit of Magis, or the pursuit of the greater good, and equip alumni to become more effective leaders and agents of service in their communities.
Yogyakarta was chosen as the host city because of its Jesuit educational heritage and Indonesia’s experience in religious diversity, interreligious dialogue, and community building.
The gathering also gave participants an opportunity to examine how the Jesuit principle of inculturation could be applied in different cultural and religious settings.
Sosa called on Jesuit alumni to exercise servant leadership, defend human dignity, promote the ethical use of technology, care for creation, and help build societies marked by justice, peace, and universal fraternity.
He said alumni grounded in Ignatian spirituality and strengthened by global collaboration must remain agents of transformation in a rapidly changing world.
His message reaffirmed the Jesuit vision of forming “men and women for and with others” who respond to contemporary challenges through faith, service, and commitment to the common good.
