(Rome, July 14, 2023) – Following the unexpected announcement by Pope Francis of the appointment of Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, as Cardinal, the Rector Major himself has written a letter to Salesians and the Salesian Family, sharing what the future foresees for governance of the Congregation.

Fr Á.F. Artime began by stressing that the news was completely "unexpected" for him, and that he welcomed it as a "gift that Pope Francis has given us as a Salesian Congregation and as the Family of Don Bosco".

“How much the Pope loves us!!!” the Rector Major writes.

Pope Francis himself, recounts the 10th Successor of Don Bosco, summoned Fr Á.F. Artime to the Vatican on Tuesday 11 July, for an appointment that he wanted, with fatherly attention, "to agree on the necessary timing of my service as Rector Major, for the good of the Congregation."

At the end of the conversation with the Rector Major, the Holy Father, who “was attentive, warm and a profound admirer of Don Bosco's charism and particularly affectionate”, has decided that Fr Á.F. Artime continue his service as Rector Major and Cardinal at the same time, for one year. He will then convene a General Chapter – the Congregation’s 29th – to be held in February 2025,during which a new Rector Major will be elected. He will offer his resignation from governance of the Congregation on 31 July 2024. From that point on his Vicar, Fr Stefano Martoglio, will assume governance of the Congregation ad interim, and it will be he who presides at GC29.

The Rector Major states in his communique that when his resignation becomes effective, he will take up the task entrusted to him by the Holy Father, a task he is not yet aware of. And he asks the Salesians and the Salesian Family to intensify their prayers for the Pope and also for himself "faced with the prospect of this new service in the Church which, as a son of Don Bosco, I accept in obedience, without having sought it, nor wanted it.”

The complete letter of the Rector Major is available at the bottom of the page (on ANS website) in Italian, English, Spanish (Spain), Latin American Spanish, French and Portuguese.

(ANS – Rome) – Following the unexpected announcement by Pope Francis of the appointment of Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, as Cardinal, the Rector Major himself has written a letter to Salesians and the Salesian Family, sharing what the future foresees for governance of the Congregation.

(ANS– Baku) – From 8 to 11 July 2023, the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, is visiting Azerbaijan. The main reason for his first visit to the country is to have talks with the President of the Republic, Ilham Aliyev, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov, the Minister of Culture, Adil Karimli, and with the Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Fund, Anar Alekperov, on mutual cooperation between the Holy See and Azerbaijan. The Cardinal is also open to dialogue regarding possible ways and forms of consolidating peaceful coexistence and cooperation in the Caucasus.

(ANS – Vatican City) – The list of participants at the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was presented on Friday 7 July 2023 by the Holy See Press Office. The first session will be held in the Vatican from 4 to 29 October 2023. Among them there are several Salesians and members of the Salesian Family, called to give their contribution in terms of reflection, discernment and proposal on the theme “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission”.

(ANS – Madrid) – Yesterday, Sunday 9 July, Pope Francis announced the creation of 21 new Cardinals, including the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Spanish Salesian Fr Ángel Fernández Artime. Due to this appointment, the Superiors of the two Salesian Provinces of Spain – St James the Greater (SSM), based in Madrid, and Mary Help of Christians (SMX), based in Seville – on behalf of all the Salesians they represent, wish to express as follows:

(ANS – Rome) – The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which this year took place on the same date on which one of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary Alacoque was recorded, on 16 June, is one of the most heartfelt and well-attended religious celebrations in the Salesian Family around the world, given the great attention that St John Bosco and, before him St Francis de Sales, gave to this particular devotion. Celebrations at the minor Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rome in particular were great. The Basilica is entrusted to the Salesians and it celebrates its patronal feast on this occasion.