Luigi Fortis

Luigi Fortis (February 26, 1748 – January 27, 1829) was an Italian Jesuit elected the twentieth Superior-General of the Society of Jesus.

Soon after the universal restoration of the Society (1814) Fortis was made provincial of the Jesuits in the Italian peninsula (1815–1818) and representative of the Superior General, Tadeusz Brzozowski (1814–1819), as the latter was not allowed by the czar to leave Russia.

The new Superior General dedicated his short term of office to restoring the texture of Jesuit life as he had known it in the old Society.

One can still find little booklets from his time containing extracts from the letters of the Generals of the old Society with lists of the occasions on which they should be read aloud during meals.

Fortis reestablished also several provinces, including in the new world (Mexico), and three missions (Ireland, Maryland and Missouri) were depending directly on the General.

In a sign of the new trust of the papacy towards the Society is the fact that Pope Leo XII returned to Jesuit management the Roman College, as well as the church of St. Ignatius, in Rome (1824).