The Press Conference began with the introductory words of Fr. Costa, who welcomed and thanked the various journalists who had come to Valdocco and affirmed them as experts in religious and ecclesial communication. “They are an extremely qualified group united by a common sympathy for the figure of Don Bosco”, expressed by the Salesian Congregation's Co-spokesperson.

In the first part of the press conference, Fr Á.F. Artime explained his service of animation and governance of the Congregation, a reality of 14,000 Salesians in 134 nations - still expanding towards new missionary frontiers - and which, although “without triumphalism”, can still boast about 450 novices making their first profession each year and an average of one young Salesian in formation for every 4.2 Sons of Don Bosco.

Speaking about himself and his commitments, the Rector Major was confident of his good knowledge of the global Salesian reality, having travelled to 110 countries over the past nine years.

He then remarked on the beginnings of Salesian work and commended the choice of having developed such a ‘press tour’ in the footsteps of Don Bosco in and around Turin, those Salesian places that the 27th General Chapter of 2014 - in which he was elected - indicated as a privileged space to be protected and promoted.

Once the presentation phase was over, the Rector Major answered all the questions with great serenity. He spoke of the presence of the Salesians in Ukraine alongside the needy, offering food and medicine even to the most at-risk territories; and of the great effort to welcome them, which also involved neighbouring countries, and the whole of Europe, in collaboration with the other groups of the Salesian Family.

Then he also spoke of the Salesian presence in China animated by the "Mary Help of Christians" Province with its works in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao and the service of some Salesians in the mainland, in agreement with the local authorities.

On the experience of the pandemic, he confessed that the lockdown was heavy for everyone, in Europe, where he himself experienced the difficulty and separation from the effects; but even more so in those countries - many of them with a large Salesian presence - where millions of people live on a very moderate scale, and where the choice of so many people was to prefer the risk of dying infected by Covid-19, rather than starving to death if they had stayed at home.

At the same time, the pandemic has generated, positively, a great wave of global generosity, with the Missionary Offices and Salesian organizations around the world managing, with the utmost transparency, an aid of 12 million euros. In the same way, there has been a flourishing of youthful creativity that has tried to make up for the absence of human contact through the online media.

In this post-Covid-19 era, now there is both the resumption of traditional animation activities in presence; and apostolates in line with Laudato Si' and integral ecology and Pope Francis’ Global Compact for Education.

In response to a question about Salesian policy on abuse by religious, the Rector Major stated clearly: "For us, who have publicly promised to dedicate our lives to adolescents and young people. If there has been even a single case where a minor is harmed, it is a terrible pain!" Furthermore, he reassured on the utmost care, procedures and policies, that have been used for years in dealing with these problems. He also emphasized the Congregation’s commitment to protect every young person and to making reparation with the appropriate means for every concrete case that has actually occurred. However, he also did not hide the fact that there have been, on various occasions, baseless and unfounded accusations against religious, perhaps motivated by mere economic interests, and he also called for the reality of abuse to be dealt with for what it is. He concluded “It is a serious social problem, not only of the Church”.

In accompanying young people with gender dysphoria or doubts about their sexual orientation, and in all the challenges related to this issue, Fr Á.F. Artime declared himself perfectly consistent with the teachings of Pope Francis and the Magisterium of the Church, and emphasized three priorities: not to reduce the Church's response to attitudes of condemnation or punishment, but to show an attitude of mercy, understanding and proximity, without thereby justifying any demands; then, to always show respect towards the person; finally, to commit himself to helping those who live these experiences to live their lives to the fullest.

In relation to a variety of delicate situations at the international level, such as in war-torn countries where Salesian presences are often present, he explained how silence is a response of wisdom and prudence, to protect local communities and the people to whom they devote themselves.

Talking about the Gerini problem, he stated that it was certainly a design of Providence behind the various human events related to the Gerini legacy that had led to the relocation of the Generalate at the Sacred Heart Institution in Rome and now the General Council to re-locate to Turin-Valdocco in recent times, due to the renovation works at Sacro Cuore. He affirmed, that the new Generalate that was being renovated would be totally modern in function and eco-friendly.

On the question of transmitting the faith to the young people, he made it clear that much has changed from time of Don Bosco to the present day, but at the same time nothing has changed. He explained that the Salesians are still committed to preparing young people for life and also to transmitting the faith, even where Christians are numerically in insignificant minorities. All this without proselytising, with an open proclamation of the Christian faith wherever possible, but with respect and appreciation for other religions and cultures. We respect the freedom of young people and their realities, and we witness through life. This is why he explained that Don Bosco's maxim ‘good Christians and honest citizens’ can be well rendered today with the expression 'good believers and honest citizens'.

Fr Á.F. Artime therefore reiterated the importance of the young person's freedom - even more so in university environments, when young people are older and aware of their choices - in the Salesian educative-religious proposal. A freedom that then translates, in those young people who accept this proposal, into an authentic and true faith, which is capable of expressing itself even in public and social commitment.

“The oratory, understood as a structure”, he added, “is still firmly relevant in realities such as Italy; in other realities it is less so, but the centrality of the 'oratorian dimension of Salesian education' has not waned. For example, in many Salesian realities there are 'youth centres', which recover those dimensions that embrace and promote the healthy use of free time, associationism and youth leadership... All these elements remain central in Salesian works throughout the world”.

He affirmed with great conviction that the Congregation's goal remains globally the same as always: the education of young people in life and faith, which is realized through the various structures at its disposal, such as parishes, youth centres, oratories, schools, universities, social centers etc.

In concluding the meeting, the Rector Major illustrated with some examples, the work for the refugees in Africa - such as the Salesian presence in the refugee camps of Kakuma, in Kenya, or Palabek, in Uganda - the good that Salesians silently do in the marginalized and most forgotten realities of the world; He then invited the journalists present to savour during these days the charism of Don Bosco and the spirituality of St Francis de Sales, Patron of Journalists; and he also exhorted them to be more and more not only media workers, but also true "communicators of the truth", capable of spreading through their work and their professionalism the good that is silently done in so many Salesian homes worldwide.

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