Charles de Noyelle

Charles de Noyelle (28 July 1615 – 12 December 1686) was a Belgian Jesuit priest, elected the twelfth Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

After secondary studies at Mons and Ypres, Charles de Noyelle joined the Jesuits at the early age of fifteen (in 1630).

He had been Rector of the School of Kortrijk for three years when he was called to Rome as sub-secretary of the Society (1653) As soon as he was elected Superior General (in 1661) Giovanni Paolo Oliva appointed de Noyelle as his Assistant for the German provinces' affairs.

This placed the Society in a difficult position in France, as its attachment to the Universal Church and the Pope prevented the Jesuits to teach the Gallicanism of the Declaration.

Reports of Jesuits (in China) ignoring or rejecting openly the papal decree forbidding the so-called Chinese rites reached the Congregation of the Propaganda Fide, resulted in ill will towards the Society.