Vatican City – October 2024 – On 2 October, the liturgical memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, in a Saint Peter's Square packed with faithful, Pope Francis presided over the opening Mass of the second session of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality. The initial procession was also attended by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime and Sister Yvonne Reungoat, Mother General Emeritus of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and facilitator at the Synod. In the opening Mass, Pope Francis recalled that to face up to this second session it will be necessary to adopt certain attitudes: listening, discerning the voice of God, getting rid of everything that prevents us from "creating harmony in diversity", opening our hearts and minds and "making ourselves small" to welcome each other, "with humility". With a look at what is happening in the world, Pope Francis then announced that to invoke the gift of peace, next Sunday he will gather in prayer in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pray the Rosary and to address "a heartfelt plea to the Virgin", and he invited the members of the Synod to join him. In addition, on 7 October he called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world.

Interamerica – September 2024 – On Tuesday, 24 September, the 2nd meeting of the Salesian Cooperators' local, national, provincial and regional formators (ASC), from different countries in the Interamerica Region, took place online, involving 62 people. Martín Calderón, ASC World Councillor for the Interamerica Region, shared the video of Antonio Boccia, ASC World Coordinator, who stressed the importance of consolidating knowledge of the Project of Apostolic Life. The aids to be developed in the different regions were then announced and will be published bi-monthly by the World Council. In addition, the challenges of the formation of ASCs in the region were addressed, highlighting the need for the completion of a SWOT analysis to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of each reality, and to proceed step by step, launching integrated formation pathways at the local level, then provincial and then regional, with planning until March 2025. Finally, the preparation of a regional initial formation plan was announced, for which the provinces were asked to share their materials by June 2025.

Rawson, Argentina – September 2024 – The Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) in the Patagonian North region met to take part in the first level of ‘Valdocco’, the School for Leaders aimed at accompanying the young people of Salesian houses and providing them with leadership tools in the daily realities in which they live. For three days, at the Santa Margarita retreat house, the participants explored their being, doing and knowledge of the leader through sequences, experiences and formative, celebratory and constructive meetings. It was a time for connection, formation and fun, full of joy and enthusiasm, where important moments of growth in faith, values and friendships were shared.