It was, of course, a special Team Visit, because it was not a Region as such, but facilities that carry out a specific formation service of great importance for the life of the Congregation. This important institutional appointment was preceded by the Extraordinary Visitation carried out in recent months by the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr Stefano Martoglio, and reaped the fruits of this, relaunching its conclusions.

The UPS Vice-Province comprises eight communities, six of which are located on the university campus. It includes 100 incardinated Salesians and 146 Salesian students, in addition to 50 diocesan or religious priests from other congregations who are hosted for studies. It is unique for the international nature of its members, its intercultural richness and the intertwining of life and thought.

The three reports by Fr José Aníbal Mendonça, Superior of the Vice-Province, Fr Andrea Bozzolo, Rector Magnificus of the UPS and Fr Renzo Barduca, Economer of both institutions, outlines the evolution that has taken place over the last six years.

The Superior presented the statistics about the communities and the origin of the religious, highlighting resources and challenges for the life of the Vice-Province. The Rector Magnificus presented a picture of the current situation of the UPS, highlighting the complexity of the university and the paths that must be taken in the future as a result of cultural transformations and ecclesial changes. In particular, the University is called to focus on an increase in academic research, on the clear charismatic identification of its educational offer and on strategic inclusion in the network of academic institutions. The Economer presented the legal status and the organisational model of the various bodies working together with the Vice-Province, the management of services and administrative economic management, as well as the extraordinary work carried out in recent years.

The Vicar of the Rector Major, sharing the results of the Extraordinary Visitation, opened a reflection on the canonical form of the Vice-Province, the relationship between religious identity and academic professionalism of the Salesians, the dynamics of fraternal life in the communities and their composition, the mission of the UPS in the strategic vision of the Congregation and the relationship between the University and Headquarters. Significant, in this regard, are the indications that the Holy See has given to the Roman pontifical academic institutions for greater collaboration, institutional simplification and a characterisation of the cultural proposal according to the specific nature of the various charisms.

The Rector Major presided over the Eucharistic celebration on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord, Sunday, 2 June, inviting a reading of fraternal life and  university mission from the perspective of the Covenant that God offers to human beings and that is renewed every time the Eucharistic mystery is celebrated. Then, in the final meeting of the visitation, he offered valuable ideas and directions, taking up many of the issues that emerged in the meetings. He reaffirmed the main mission of the University as a cultural expression of the Salesian charism at the service of the formation of Salesians and many others who expect  a qualified educational and pastoral reflection from the UPS on the challenges of the Church and society in the contemporary world. He recognised the growth in the relationship between the University and the government of the Congregation, recognising the need for new and expanded forms of institutional accompaniment and synergy between the Sectors at Headquarters and the cultural proposals of the university.

Even the informal moments experienced in a climate of great familiarity and friendship, contributed to enriching the discussion over the days, encouraging us to look to the future with confidence and renewed commitment.

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