August 7, 1814 - Pope Pius VII Restores the Jesuits

Image Citation: Sir Thomas Lawrence, Portrait of Pope Pius VII, c. 1819. Oil on canvas. Public domain. Courtesy of the Royal Collection Trust

For more than forty years, the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) existed only in scattered regions after Pope Clement XIV suppressed the order in 1773 under intense political pressure from several European monarchies. That changed on August 7, 1814, when Pope Pius VII formally restored the Society of Jesus throughout the Catholic Church.

The restoration marked the beginning of a remarkable resurgence. Jesuits quickly reestablished schools, seminaries, universities, and missionary efforts across Europe and around the world. They also became some of the strongest defenders of the papacy during the turbulent political and religious changes of the nineteenth century.

The order's influence has continued into the modern era. In 2013, nearly two centuries after its restoration, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis, becoming the first Jesuit pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.

Why it matters:

The restoration of the Jesuits ensured the survival of one of Christianity's most influential religious orders. Their renewed emphasis on education, scholarship, missionary work, and service has shaped millions of lives worldwide and continues to have a significant impact on the global Church today.