Exposcit debitum


Exposcit Debitum is the title of the papal bull that gave a second and final approval to the foundation of the Society of Jesus. It was issued by Pope Julius III on 21 July 1550. It replaced Regimini militantis Ecclesiae of 1540. The structure of the text is the same but, based on 10 years experience, some modifications were introduced:
  1. the limitation to 60 members was dropped;
  2. it allowed the admission of Coadjutors, that is: zealous but uneducated priests and competent lay people desirous to offer their life for an apostolic service The temporal coadjutors have always taken the same three vows of religious life, and are nowadays called 'Jesuit Brothers';
  3. Defence of the faith is added to its Propagation as an aim of the Society of Jesus.
''Exposcit Debitum remains a key papal document — a foundational charter of sorts — for deliberations on the identity and mission of the Jesuits in the world today.''