Rome, Italy - 1940 - On May 3, 1940, the Holy See, through a special decree signed by Card. Giuseppe Pizzardo, approved and erected the Pontifical Salesian Athenaeum, under the leadership of Fr. Ricaldone, who was the first Grand Chancellor. The Athenaeum, despite the difficulties caused by World War II, continued its activities and even managed to start, at the Faculty of Philosophy, an Institute and Seminary of Pedagogy.