The group, composed of Vaticanists and experts in religious journalism - "qualified and united by a common sympathy towards the figure of Don Bosco," as well summarized by Fr. Costa - met in Turin-Valdocco in the middle of the day on Friday, December 16. Already the first moment of lunch together was in the spirit of Salesianity with the meal offered and prepared by the students of the CNOS-FAP center in Turin.

In the afternoon, the activities immediately got into full swing with the press conference granted by the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime. He briefly explained the current state of the Congregation and then made himself available, with frankness and openness, to all their questions: from the most topical and thorny issues of current news to reflections on Salesian pastoral action today, none of the questions addressed to the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco remained unanswered, nor did they receive purely "diplomatic" answers.

Afterwards, the journalists visited the various rooms of the "Don Bosco House Museum" guided by its Director, Stefania De Vita. It was an opportunity to admire the spaces inhabited by Don Bosco, the rooms of the first Oratory, as well as hear some of the stories and anecdotes relating to the 13 saintly figures who lived in Valdocco at the time of the Founder of the Congregation and to the saints of the Salesian Family whose relics enrich the museum.

On Saturday morning, the group, accompanied by Fr. Mike Pace, Deputy Director of the "Don Bosco House Museum," visited the places of Don Bosco's origins. Taking a backward route from the Turin that saw him as the father of so many poor abandoned youth, the journalists first stopped in Chieri, where they learned about the vocational history of the Saint of Youth and his formative and human journey in the years of his youth; and under the guidance of Fr. Thathireddy Vijaya Bhaskar and Fr. Livio Faganello, respectively Director and Oratory Director of the Colle Don Bosco community, they stopped by the church where Don Bosco himself, as well as Fr. Giuseppe Cafasso and Dominic Savio, were baptized.

Then they continued further on their way to Castelnuovo Don Bosco where they were able to admire the humble house where little John grew up and where he had the famous 9-year-old dream that oriented his entire life and pastoral action; and then also the majestic temple on the Don Bosco Hill erected above what was his birthplace. The punctual and precise accompaniment of the guides allowed them to delve, on the one hand, into all the harshness of peasant life in Don Bosco's time and the daily difficulties that his family also experienced; and on the other hand, into the artistic richness and significance of the Salesian basilica.

"This is the first time I've been here, and I must admit that I could never have imagined that a large and worldwide congregation with thousands of works and apostolates could have had such humble and poor origins. It really surprised me," commented RAI’s Tg2 reporter Enzo Romeo, from Italian state TV.

On Saturday afternoon the group returned to Turin for a tour of the city, with the opportunity to enjoy again the accompaniment of Fr. Pace as a tour guide to discover the most significant places in relation to Don Bosco's life and the beginnings of the Congregation. "It often happens to me to accompany groups of pilgrims visiting Turin and the Salesian sites, but it is not frequent, however, that my group is composed of so many figures from the world of information and communication, capable of making an impact at the international level," said the Deputy Director of the Don Bosco House Museum. "I must admit that I was truly amazed by their simplicity, their desire to know, listen, understand, the willingness shown, and above all their humanity."

Having concluded the central day of the press tour with a night visit to Turin and its Christmas light displays, Sunday morning saw the final acts of the rich program consummated: first the proposal of a spiritual moment for the whole group, with Mass in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, presided over by the Rector of the Temple, Fr. Michele Viviano, and also concelebrated by Fr. Gildasio Mendes, General Councilor for Social Communication; and finally, the concluding agape.

Extremely satisfied, at the end of this three-day event, its organizer, Fr. Costa, commented, "I cannot but be happy with the way the entire program developed, but even more so with the participation, not at all formal, but lively and vibrant of these distinguished colleagues of mine. I am especially happy because I was able to record from everyone a great willingness to know and listen, to understand, along with arousing an attitude of true empathy and sympathy towards Don Bosco and Salesian work."

"This tour in Don Bosco's footsteps opened up a new world for me, which I did not know in depth and detail. Instead, I was now able to immerse myself in the source and origins of the charism of Don Bosco and the Salesian Family," Giovanna Chirri, former ANSA journalist, commented at the conclusion of this experience.

The creation of this press tour was made possible thanks to the generous availability of the Rector Major.

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