FORTIS, LUIGI. - Jesuit, 20th general of the Order, b. in Verona on 26 Feb. 1749, d. in Rome on 27 Jan. 1829. Struck by the suppression of the Society (1773) while he was teaching letters at the College of Ferrara, he moved, at the invitation of Duke Ferdinand, to Parma, to the College of Nobles. In 1794 he re-entered among the Jesuits, then was provincial of Rome and vicar of the general, detained in Russia. He was therefore well trained in the art of government when on 18 Oct. 1820 he was elected general of the Order.
The times, in fact, were still stormy and the Jesuits counted several adversaries in Rome itself, indeed within their own ranks, who dreamed of compromising changes and reforms. Fortis, who to a serene affability knew how to join a paternal energy and a vigorous industriousness, passed the test excellently: to the new impulse for the formation of novices and students and for the practical direction of teachers and preachers there corresponded a notable increase in religious, so much so that new divisions of provinces soon became necessary. Meanwhile in the Papal States the Roman College was restored to him (1824), the direction of the College of Nobles (1826), the reinstatement of the German College (1825), besides the foundation of the College of Spoleto (1825), alongside those already existing of Fano, Orvieto, Forlì, Ferentino, Tivoli. With the bull Plura inter Leo XII confirmed in 1826 the ancient privileges of the Order and added new ones. Likewise houses and colleges were restored in Piedmont, Sardinia, Milan, Naples, Modena. In the other nations of Europe, the work, continually increasing, was hindered by ever new difficulties on the part of the adversaries; there came even proscriptions and exiles, as in Spain and Russia; but the proscribed served to fill the needs of other countries. At the death of Fortis the Society of Jesus already counted 9 provinces and 2 very promising missions in the United States: that of Maryland (1823) and that of Missouri (1829).