On the morning of Saturday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m. (UTC+2), in the "Paul VI Hall" at the Vatican, a Holy Mass will be celebrated, presided over by the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime; following this, some testimonies on the figure of the future saint will be offered. Then, at noon, there will be a special audience by Pope Francis for all the Salesians and members of the Salesian Family who have come together because of Zatti's canonization.
In the afternoon there will be an opportunity to embark upon a guided pilgrimage to the places of Don Bosco in Rome, with itineraries for different language groups.
On Sunday, October 9, the attention of the entire Salesian Family of the world will be focused on the Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Canonization presided over by Pope Francis on the parvis of St. Peter's Basilica. Along with Artemide Zatti, Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, bishop of Piacenza, founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles and the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, will also be proclaimed a saint.
"All confreres who, in dialogue with their respective Provincials, intend to participate are invited to come to Rome from all the Provinces of the world," the Rector Major announced in a letter sent to the Superiors of all the Salesian Circumscriptions across the globe. "The canonization of Artemide Zatti will be a great feast for all of us Salesians, but especially for the coadjutor confreres."
The Rector Major then asked all members of the General Council to be present on this important day and extended his invitation to all the Provincial Superiors of the Congregation's 91 Provinces and Vice-Provinces. The Rector Major also invited Salesian bishops, archbishops, and cardinals who wish to attend. "It will certainly be a great day for the whole Church, for the particular Churches, and for the Salesian Congregation," explained Fr. Á.F. Artime.
Salesian coadjutors who will arrive in Rome for the occasion are also invited to continue their pilgrimage to visit the Salesian holy places of Valdocco-Chieri and Colle Don Bosco from Oct. 10 until the morning of Oct. 14, 2022.
And on Oct. 11, as part of the pilgrimage, at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin-Valdocco, the Rector Major shall preside over a Eucharist of thanksgiving for Artemide Zatti's gift of holiness.
"The whole Congregation and Salesian Family are invited to celebrate a Eucharist of thanksgiving on the same day and in every part of the Salesian world, in communion with the one we will celebrate in Valdocco," concludes the 10th Successor of Don Bosco.
To participate in the events on Saturday, October 8 in Paul VI Hall, click here.
For information and to request tickets, write to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
