Gathered at the facilities of the Azara campus of the "Assam Don Bosco University," the young people welcomed the 10th Successor of Don Bosco and the Regional Councilor for South Asia, Fr. Michael Biju, with a welcome song and traditional dances. In front of this multitude of boys and girls, dressed in the typical clothes of the various tribes and geographical origins, Fr. Á.F. Artime expressed his joy to meet them and to know such and so much beauty and cultural variety. He manifested, "We met just half an hour ago, but I feel that I’ve known you for a long time, as if I were a member of your institute. I and my fellow Salesians and the sisters of the Salesian Family, when we are with young people, we feel that we are made for you (...) Dear young people, this time is all for you, because you are my priority."

Afterward, the question and answer session began. On the youth of the world, the Rector Major stressed that cultural diversity is a great value, but that there is one point common to all, already identified by Don Bosco: "a spark of goodness in the heart of every boy and girl."

To the youth, he reiterated his personal trust and that of all Salesians: he urged them not to be afraid, but to trust in God, and to take advantage of the study opportunities offered to them by the Salesian Family: "Keep in mind that you are not preparing for a job, but for happiness," he explained.

One question concerned the problem of mental health among young people: in the face of so many suicides and depressions, the Rector Major pointed out that young people are often squeezed or crushed between social expectations and pressures and false solutions offered by society. On the contrary, for his part, he invited them to "dream of doing and achieving important things in your life and commit your strength and time to fulfill that dream"; but at the same time, he urged them "to build everything step by step," with perseverance and serenity.

On discerning one's life vocation, the Rector Major offered sharp and evocative answers, inviting them to work seriously to discover what one's mission is; because, he explained "vocation is not just a job, but it is marvelous when one's job and vocation are the same thing."

Among the problems common to youth globally, Fr. Á.F. Artime pointed to the lack of work, understood not only as unemployment or an economic-social problem, but at a deeper level, as "the impossibility of being on the stage of one's life, in the reality for which one has prepared oneself with hard work and one's gifts and talents." In the face of this, he reiterated Salesian action to counter this problem, and urged, "We can and must give the best of ourselves, commit ourselves to the maximum and then have faith."

Finally, on the perspectives of Salesian education, he remarked on the importance of working together in the spirit of the Salesian Family, of avoiding mediocrity and striving for excellence, not so much in working harder, but giving our best on the path to renewal.

The pleasant meeting ended amid traditional songs offered by the youth and the singing response of Fr. Ángel, who played two popular Spanish songs.

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