Jesuits: A Multibiography

The narrative explores the rise and fall of the Jesuits, detailing their evolution into a powerful order within Christendom and their eventual abolition in 1773, followed by a restoration forty years later. Historical figures such as Pascal, Voltaire, and Catherine the Great are woven into the story. Jean Lacouture highlights Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit whose scientific insights clashed with Church doctrine. The account also addresses Pope John XXIII's reforms and the impact of Jesuit-inspired liberation theology in Latin America, culminating in the constraints faced during John Paul II's papacy.