Franz Xavier Wernz

Franz Xavier Wernz SJ (December 4, 1842 – August 19, 1914) was the twenty-fifth superior general of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit order).

After the death of Luis Martín, the vicar general summoned a congregation for August 31, 1906, but it began after a day's postponement on September 1 and would last until October 18.

The whole continent of North America was one of his special interests and he approved the setting up of provinces, houses, and colleges the length and breadth of that vast territory.

Father Martín had set up the famous Monumenta Historica and Wernz continued his support and encouraged Jesuit writers to take up this important work, which they did with enthusiasm.

He was instrumental in the founding of the Jesuit periodicals "Voces e Maria ad Lacum" which became "Stimmen der Zeit" in Germany and another, "Przeglad Powszechny", in Poland.