The meeting between Charles Borromeo and Diego Laínez comes at a
difficult and confusing moment in the history of the Roman Church,
characterized by the French events, the last sessions of the council of
Trent, and the crisis of the Societas after the Ignatius’ death.
Their relationship, initially mediated by the controversial figure of
Pio IV, is immediately constructive: in fact it allows the settlement of
the Society of Jesus in Milan (1563). However there are points of dispute
which have origin in their different ecclesiological vision: the
centrality of bishop’s authority, whose model becomes Charles Borromeo,
contrasts to Father General’s opinion about Episcopal powers,
and to the constant demand for local autonomy of the Jesuits.
