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Who are the Jesuits?

The Jesuits are members of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556). A Spanish nobleman born Iñigo de Oñaz y Loyola, Saint Ignatius became a knight in 1517 and fought against the French at the siege of Pamplona, northeast of Madrid, in 1521. After being seriously wounded in the battle, he retreated to a commune in northeast Spain in 1522. There Ignatius received a religious calling and undertook a pilgrimage (religious journey) to Jerusalem, the holy city of Christians, the following year. He dedicated himself to a religious life, pursuing a program of writing and study in Spain and Paris, France. Before his ordination as a priest in 1537, Ignatius had gained many followers, including the Spanish missionary Francis Xavier (1506–1552). With his companions he founded the Society of Jesus in 1539; the religious order was approved by Pope Paul III...

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