Malta – September 2024 - An extraordinary historical relic has emerged in Malta, arousing new interest in the island's Salesian heritage. An original autograph of Cardinal Giovanni Cagliero, the first Salesian Cardinal, dated July 1921, was recently discovered on a picture of Pope Benedict XV imparting his apostolic blessing to Mr. Alphonse Maria Galea, a well-known Maltese philanthropist whose efforts were instrumental in bringing the Salesians to Malta. Alphonse Maria Galea is a significant figure in Maltese history, remembered for his unceasing dedication to creating the Salesian presence on the island. His tireless work paved the way for the arrival of the Salesians, a moment of transformation in Maltese religious and educational life. What makes this discovery particularly fascinating is that the document is signed by Cardinal Cagliero himself. Cagliero, a close confidant of Don Bosco and a missionary, occupies a special place in the Salesian tradition. The presence of his autograph on an image linked to Alphonse Maria Galea raises intriguing questions about the possible involvement, direct or indirect, of the Cardinal in the arrival of the Salesians in Malta.