The events on Sunday opened with a procession in homage to Zatti through the streets of the municipality. Having reached the destination, the Basilica of St Mark, the Eucharistic celebration began, presided over by the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco, in the presence of numerous civil, religious and Salesian authorities. Among the latter was the presence of the Provincial of Lombardia-Emilia (ILE), Fr. Roberto dal Molin, accompanied by the Rectors of his Province, and the Provincial Superiors of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) of Lombardia and Emilia, Liguria & Tuscany of Italy, Sr. Stefania Saccuman and Sr. Elide Degiovanni respectively.

At beginning of the mass, the parish priest and head of the local pastoral unit, Fr. Giancarlo Minotta, emphasized that saints are not wax statues in museums, but still walk alongside the humanity of today. He noted that the very knowledge of the fact, that among the ranks of the saints, there is also a nurse specializing in material and spiritual assistance to the very poor, is a powerful resource. With this reflection, he invited the people to realize that they have these powerful intercessors present and always close at hand, in the hope that even in Zatti's birthplace there will be at least a little of the popularity and devotion that he is accorded in what became his adopted homeland, Argentina.

Then the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla, Msgr. Giovanni Rossi, also took the floor, representing the Archbishop, Rt.Rev. Giacomo Morandi, praised the example offered by Zatti in living the Salesian "Da mihi animas", and expressed the Archdiocese's joy at having, through Zatti, a "great joy and an invitation to conversion", a manifestation of "holiness at home". And, after expressing the archdiocese's gratitude to the Salesian community for its educational work, he concluded: 'thanks to our dear Saint Artemide, we at Reggiani-Guastallesi, also feel even closer to the Sons of Don Bosco scattered around the world'.

Then, during his homily, the Rector Major explained the meaning of sanctity, clarifying that through beatification and canonization, the Church offers its faithful models of Christian life: "people in the flesh who have been extraordinary in living the faith, following Jesus, practicing charity"; he recounted his experience as the Provincial of South Argentina and his direct knowledge of Zatti's places and activities, which was invaluable for so many, but carried out discreetly and in everyday life. He narrated to the faithful gathered, the secret of Zatti's fidelity and service - the experience of illness and of healing at the hands of Mary, with the subsequent promise that committed him for the rest of his life. The Rector Major, also drew a comparison between Zatti's service and the page of the Gospel dedicated to the figure of the Good Samaritan. He concluded by observing that if a figure of holiness as fascinating as Zatti has come out of that Emilian land, then "there is so much beauty and goodness here that should not be wasted".

The celebration ended with a final significant gesture with the Rector Major handing over to the community Boretto, a copy of the "Lettera Decretale" (Decree) of Zatti's canonisation, i.e. the official pontifical document attesting to his canonization.

The culmination of the day was finally reached with the presentation of honorary citizenship to the Rector Major by the Mayor of Boretto, Matteo Benassi. "Today is a day of celebration for our community, not only of the Christian community but also of the civil community", began the First Citizen, listing the many reasons for the celebration. Then, he specified: "The conferring of honorary citizenship on Cardinal Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime is meant to be a recognition of the Rector Major of the Salesians in continuity with his predecessors, who were always close to our community, starting with the late Fr. Juan Vecchi, who was also of Boretto origin. But it also wants to be a sign of participation and friendship towards the entire Salesian world: the citizenship of the Rector Major means that every Salesian who comes to Boretto will be considered a citizen, a friend, and a brother of our community'. And he emphasized, from a layman's perspective, the importance of celebrating a person who, combined competence and passion, who welcomed his neighbour and respected him, who healed even when he could not heal, who knew that every smile is a medicine, and who -while he bandaged the wounds of the body did not neglect those of the soul. "How nice it would be if we all treated each other with the gentleness that Zatti had!" he finished, before officially presenting the Rector Major with the plaque conferring honorary citizenship.

The festive day was completed in the afternoon with a new edition of the "Color Zatti" event, an entertaining and itinerant catechesis, led by the Salesians of Parma and the FMA of Bibbiano, which took participants through sketches, music and colours - on shirts and faces - along the places where Artemide Zatti was born and grew up, where he became a Christian and where he experienced the misery that saw him as a farm labourer at an early age and which later led his family to emigrate to Bahía Blanca.

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