Everard Mercurian

Everard Mercurian (* 1514 in Marcourt; † August 1, 1580 in Rome ) was the fourth general of the Society of Jesus.

Life

When in 1572 the 3rd General of the Order, Francisco de Borja, died, the General Assembly of the Order elected him on 23 April 1573 4th General of the Order. He was the preferred candidate by Pope Gregory XIII. End of the year 1573 convened Mercurian the diplomat Antonio Possevino to his personal secretary.

Mercurian sent in 1573 to the Jesuits Gregory of Valencia ( 1549-1603 ) to Bavaria, where he worked for 25 years as one of the most important theologians of his time.

With 66 years Everard Mercurian died on August 1, 1580 in Rome. His successor was Claudio Acquaviva.