LUSAKA, ZAMBIA — The Southern Africa Province (SAP) of the Society of Jesus is mourning the passing of Fr. Peter Henriot, SJ, former Director of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), who died on Saturday, 12 September 2026, at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Centre in Los Gatos, California, USA. He was 90 years old.

Fr. Leonard Chiti, SJ, Provincial of the Southern Africa Province, announced Fr. Henriot’s death and paid tribute to a Jesuit whose life and ministry were deeply rooted in faith, social justice, theological reflection and service to the poor, particularly in Zambia and Malawi.

Fr. Henriot spent many years in Zambia, where he became widely known for his leadership of JCTR. During his 22 years as Director, he helped establish the Centre as an important voice in national conversations on poverty, debt, economic justice and development.

JCTR, a faith-based ministry of the Society of Jesus, works to promote justice and equality through research, advocacy, education and theological reflection, particularly on issues affecting poor and marginalised communities.

At JCTR, Fr. Henriot brought together faith, social analysis and practical action. His ministry was characterised by a conviction that theological reflection could not be separated from the lived realities of people experiencing poverty and injustice.

His contribution extended beyond the institutional work of JCTR. Together with Joe Holland, he co-authored the influential book Social Analysis: Linking Faith and Justice, which developed the pastoral-circle approach to understanding social realities and connecting them with theological reflection and pastoral action.

The approach has become an important tool for communities and practitioners seeking to understand the structural causes of injustice while discerning practical responses rooted in faith.

Fr. Henriot’s influence was also felt through the many people who encountered his work and ministry. His contribution to social and economic reflection in Zambia helped inspire researchers, activists, students, development practitioners and others to look more deeply at the human realities behind poverty and inequality.

One scholar researching urban poverty in Zambia recalled Fr. Henriot as an inspiring figure whose work deepened his understanding of the importance of confronting poverty and its underlying causes.

A commitment that continued beyond Zambia

In the later years of his ministry, Fr. Henriot devoted considerable energy to supporting Loyola Jesuit Secondary School in Malawi, where he served as Director of Development.

In this role, he helped mobilise resources to support the school and its mission of providing quality Jesuit education to young people.

Even after returning to the United States, Fr. Henriot continued this work. A 2026 diocesan publication notes that he moved back to Tacoma in 2016 and remained actively involved in fundraising for Loyola Jesuit Secondary School.

His continued commitment to the school reflected a lifelong belief in the transformative power of education and the importance of investing in young people, particularly those who might otherwise have limited opportunities.

It was, in many ways, a continuation of the same conviction that animated his years at JCTR: that lasting social transformation requires more than addressing immediate needs. It requires empowering people, strengthening communities and creating opportunities for human flourishing.

A life of faith, justice and service

Fr. Henriot leaves behind a legacy that spans continents and generations.

For Zambia and Malawi, his ministry formed part of a long Jesuit tradition of accompanying communities, engaging social realities through faith and working for a more just society.

For JCTR, his 22 years of leadership form an important part of the Centre’s history and development. His work helped shape a tradition of linking rigorous social analysis with Christian reflection and a preferential concern for people living in poverty and on the margins of society.

As the Society of Jesus, the people of Zambia and Malawi, and all who knew and worked with Fr. Henriot mourn his passing, they also give thanks for his life and ministry.

His was a life spent seeking justice, nurturing faith, accompanying the poor and investing in people.

May he rest in eternal peace.

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.