Rome (Italy). On 16 August 2024, on the significant date in which in 1815, in the village of Becchi of the hamlet of Morialdo, municipality of Castelnuovo (Asti), John Melchiorre Bosco was born, “Father and Teacher of youth,” Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime concludes his term as Rector Major of the Congregation and of the Salesian Family
As he announced in a press release sent to the Confreres and Members of the Salesian Family on the eve of his Episcopal Ordination, he will be surrounded by young people participating in the “Salesian Youth Synod” (SYS), which takes place at Colle Don Bosco, precisely in the place where the Saint of the young saw the light:
“In agreement with Pope Francis, I will end my service as Rector Major on the evening of 16 August 2024, after the celebration of the 209th anniversary of the birth of our Father Don Bosco. On the same day, we will conclude the Youth Synod, in which 370 young people from all over the world will participate on the occasion of the bicentenary of the dream at nine years of age, which for Don Bosco was a vision-dream and a program of life that have reached us.”
From India, where she is for the Inter-Sector seminar of the PCI Conference, the Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, expresses her gratitude on behalf of all the FMAs:
Dearest Fr. Ángel,
Rector Major and father of the Salesian Family for one more day. We cannot let you go without saying once again our affectionate thank you for these years of fraternal closeness, sharing, and Salesian dialogue.
You have chosen a particularly significant date to say good-bye to us and Don Bosco will guide you even more strongly in your new mission at the service of the Church and the world.
As we accompany you with our affection on the new path that you are beginning, we assure you of our prayer and entrust you to Mary, Mother and Teacher, so that she may always guard and sustain you.
