Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, the former Rector Major, along with his predecessor, Fr. Pascual Chávez Villanueva, and successor, Fr. Fabio Attard.
Presiding over the closing celebration of the General Chapter in Turin, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, the former Rector Major, along with his predecessor, Fr. Pascual Chávez Villanueva, and successor, Fr. Fabio Attard, invited his fellow Salesians during the Eucharist, to be new Don Boscos for today’s world: “missionaries in love, captivated by Christ, and compelled to share the love that transformed their lives.”
The Mass, a historic first in the Congregation’s history, brings together three Rectors Major concelebrating in the global heart of Salesian spirituality. “A very meaningful celebration,” Cardinal Artime called it. “Everything takes us back to the origins of this precious adventure and reality, where our Father heard what God was asking of him and where everything began. Vocationally and charismatically, we were all born here. Today is a beautiful moment to thank the Lord for the many signs of the Holy Spirit at the end of this Chapter.”
During the homily, Cardinal Artime emphasized once more: “How could we not bless and thank the Lord for the grace, mercy, and love with which He cares for and watches over Don Bosco’s Family—especially his Salesian sons and daughters today?”
Cardinal Artime highlighted Don Bosco’s greatness. Citing Pope Francis several times—both in his message to GC29 and his recent encyclical Dilexit Nos on the Sacred Heart of Jesus—Cardinal Artime highlighted Don Bosco’s ability to be moved, to let his heart be pierced by the suffering of abandoned youth, and to respond selflessly by dedicating his life entirely to their well-being.
He reminded them that Salesians are not masters of anything, least of all young people—they are servants in the name of the Lord. He warned against the temptations of power and comfort, calling for a renewed passion for Christ, which fuels total dedication to today’s youth. Every Salesian, he said, should be able to tell young people sincerely: “You can count on us. We exist for you, and we will never abandon you.”
He also returned to a familiar theme from his ten years as Rector Major: the non-negotiable importance of fraternity. “It is not optional or accidental,” he said. “It is essential to our charism. When lived authentically, it becomes a powerful source of attraction—a true ‘magnetism.'”
Courtesy: ANS Turin
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