Claudius Acquaviva
| Very Reverend Claudio Acquaviva, S.J. |
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| Born | 14 September 1543 |
| Died | 31 January 1615 (aged 71) |
| Occupation | Jesuit priest |
| Known for | being the second founder of the Jesuit Order and Superior General of the Society of Jesus |
Claudio Acquaviva, S.J. (14 September 1543 – 31 January 1615) was an Italian Jesuit priest elected in 1581 the fifth Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He is often referred to as the second founder of the Jesuit order. Some older texts, including those illustrated in this article, spell his name Aquaviva.
Claudio Acquaviva was born in Atri, Abruzzo, the son of Giovanni Antonio Acquaviva d'Aragona, 9th Duke of Atri, descended from a noble family illustrious at the court of Naples for its patronage of humanist culture. His grandfather, Andrea Matteo Acquaviva (1456–1528), was a condottiere and humanist whose brother Belisario Acquaviva (1464–1528), Duke of Nardo, was also a noted man of letters. After initial studies of humanities (Latin, Greek and Hebrew) and Mathematics, he studied Jurisprudence in Perugia, and then he was appointed as Papal Chamberlain by Pope Pius IV.
He had heard of the Society of Jesus through his friendship with Francis Borgia and Juan de Polanco. He was particularly impressed by the works of the Early Companions during the Plague in 1566 and decided to join the Order in 1567. With the blessing of Pius V he asked the then Superior General, Francis Borgia, to be admitted to the noviceship. After completing his studies, he was very soon given positions of important responsibility, his administrative gifts marking him out for the highest posts. He soon became the Provincial superior of Naples and then of Rome; and during this office he offered to join the Jesuit mission to England that set out under Robert Parsons in the spring of 1580.
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