THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
Fr. Angel
Fernandez Artime
I
wish to continue to serve others --
in a different way.
MY NOMINATION AS CARDINAL
[Editor's Note: This morning, Sept. 30, Fr. Angel was made a cardinal by Pope Francis. He composed his October message early in the month.]
I feel that I share what our holy Founder said in 1884: “I see ever more what a glorious future has been prepared for our Society, how it will spread and what good it will be able to accomplish.”
Dear friends of the Salesian charism, I send to each of you my sincere, fraternal, and affectionate greeting.
The editors of the Salesian Bulletin have “suggested”
that I prepare this greeting not as I’ve done at other times, telling you of
something noteworthy that I’ve experienced, but speaking of myself, of this new
reality that awaits me. I’ve experienced something of what I’ve studied
regarding the person of our father Don Bosco. He found it difficult to speak of
himself, and still more difficult to voice what he was feeling. In my case, I
have to admit that it’s a little more difficult to speak or to write of the
most recent things that have happened to me; but sooner or later I have to do
it, and the messages of various Salesian media that comes into the hands and
the hearts of so many friends of Don Bosco’s charism is a good way of sending this
personal message.
After the
unexpected news (for me, especially) by which Pope Francis included my name,
too, among the 21 men whom he has chosen to make cardinals of the Church at the
consistory on September 30, thousands of people have asked me, especially Salesians
of Don Bosco and members of the Salesian Family around the world: “What happens
now? Who will guide the Congregation for the near future? What steps await us?”
You can well understand that I’ve asked myself these very questions, while I’ve
thanked the Lord in faith for this gift that the Holy Father has given to the
Salesian Congregation and Don Bosco’s Family.
Reading with our faith, aware of the great deeds God
has done and what we know through his Word, we can say that God loves
surprises. It’s usual in the Bible for God to say: “Go! The road will be
revealed to you.” One important thing that Don Bosco has taught us is, “Let
nothing upset you, and put your trust in God’s Providence.”
I feel
that I share what our holy Founder said in 1884: “I see ever more what a glorious future has been
prepared for our Society, how it will spread and what good it will be able to
accomplish.”
I was able to speak personally with Pope Francis after
his Angelus announcement, assuring him of my availability, that he can count on
me for any sort of service. I answered as Don Bosco did when he was asked to
build the Sacred Heart Church in Rome—in this case, an aged and sick Don Bosco,
who was also aware of the burden and the responsibility for a Congregation being
born. Don Bosco answered, “If this is the Pope’s order, I obey!”
With simplicity, I told the Holy Father that we Salesians
have learned from Don Bosco to be always available for the welfare of the Church,
and in particular for anything the Pope might request. So, while I thank God for
this gift that’s for the whole
Congregation and the Salesian Family, I express my gratitude to Pope Francis by
assuring him that all the members of our great Family will pray for him more
fervently and intensely. As I said, our prayer will always be accompanied by our
sincere and profound affection.
What happens
now?
I must share
with you that I’ve been deeply touched by Pope Francis’s sensitivity in our regard.
He is taking into account that my service as Rector Major shouldn’t change immediately
from one day to another. Therefore, about half an hour after he announced my nomination
at the end of the Angelus on Sunday, July 9, the Holy Father sent me a letter
in which he spoke of the time necessary for me to prepare for a general chapter
of our Congregation before I take up whatever he intends to entrust to me. As
always, the Holy Father has shown that he’s attentive, cordial, and particularly fond of and highly esteems the
charism of Don Bosco. These sentiments in my own name and the name of the whole
Salesian Family, I reciprocated.
I’d like to share with you the arrangements that the
Holy Father communicated to me.
The Pope has
decided that, for the benefit of our Congregation, after the consistory on September
30, 2023, I may continue my service as Rector Major until July 31, 2024. At that
time, I’ll resign as Rector
Major, as our Constitutions and Regulations require, so as to put myself into
the Holy Fathers’ hands for the service that he’ll entrust to me.
This is as much as the Pope has communicated to me. We
can expect the 29th General Chapter to meet in February 2025. My
vicar, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, will assume the government of the Congregation ad
interim, as our Constitutions establish, until GC29 takes place. Finally, I
still have to mention and answer one other question that many of you have: what
task will the Holy Father
give me? Pope Francis hasn’t told me. Furthermore, I think this
is ample time for what’s to be done most opportunely.
In any case,
I ask all of you, dear confreres and members of the groups of our Salesian Family,
to continue and intensify your prayer – above all, for Pope Francis. He asked
specifically for that at the end of the private audience he granted me.
Finally, I
ask also that you pray for me, as I face the prospect of a new service in the Church
which, as a son of Don Bosco, I accept in filial obedience, without having
sought it. I truly believe that in the Church the services we provide
can’t be and must never be sought or claimed as if we were trying to make a
personal career. What the “world” thinks is proper is inappropriate for us as
servants in the name of Jesus. And we must differ (very much, I hope) from any
worldly standard. To all this our beloved Father Don Bosco bears witness before
the Lord Jesus.
I thank you for your love, the closeness you’ve expressed
in these weeks with the numerous messages that have come to me from every part of
the world.
I feel
addressed to me the same words that the Madonna said to Don Bosco in his dream
at nine years of age – whose 2nd centennial will be celebrated next year: “In due time you’ll understand everything.”
And we know that for our Father that understanding came,
in effect, almost at the end of his life, at the altar of Mary Help of
Christians in the basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which had been consecrated
the day before, on May 16, 1887. From the basilica of Mary Help of Christians I
send you an affectionate and grateful greeting, entrusting everything and everyone
to her, our Mother, who will continue to accompany and sustain us. As always, I
greet you with immense love.
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