Pius XI’s Homily and the Special Characteristics of Don Bosco’s Canonization
88 Years Ago
Pope Pius XI carried thru St. Peter's Square
(ANS – Rome – April 1, 2026) – On April 1, 1934,
Easter Sunday, in St. Peter’s Basilica Pope Pius XI solemnly proclaimed Don
Bosco a saint. The choice of date was not accidental. Easter, the feast of
Christ’s Resurrection, expresses the deepest meaning of Christian holiness:
participation in the victory of life over death. By placing the canonization on
the day of the Resurrection, the Church wished to affirm that Don Bosco’s
holiness did not belong solely to the past but constituted a living and active
presence within the communion of saints.
A Long Preparation and the Apostolic Letter Geminata Laetitia
The canonization represented the culmination of a long and
rigorous canonical process. The cause had been introduced in 1890, just two
years after the Saint’s death. In 1929 Don Bosco had been proclaimed Blessed,
and in the years that followed the miracles required for canonization were
examined and approved.
Once the necessary procedures had been completed, the Holy
See prepared the apostolic letter of canonization, entitled Geminata Laetitia (“Twofold
Joy”). The title expressed the double reason for rejoicing on that day: the
Easter joy of the Church and the joy of enrolling a new saint in the register
of the universal Church. In it, Pius XI officially proclaimed Don Bosco a saint,
presenting him as a radiant honor of Italy and of the entire Catholic world, an
exemplary priest and father of the young.
The Solemn Celebration in St. Peter’s
The ceremony was carried out with extraordinary solemnity.
The Vatican basilica gathered a large college of cardinals, numerous bishops
and priests, men and women religious, together with a vast number of lay
faithful. Among them stood out the presence of thousands of Salesians,
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Cooperators and, above all, young people
from Salesian works.
Their participation was deeply symbolic. The Church was not canonizing
a saint withdrawn into the silence of a cloister, but a priest who had lived
among young people, in playgrounds, schools, and workshops. St. Peter’s
Basilica seemed almost transformed into a great universal oratory, where the
joy of the young bore witness to the fruitfulness of Don Bosco’s charism.
Contemporary accounts speak of profound emotion, prolonged
applause, and a deep sense of gratitude. The event was perceived not only as a
solemn liturgical act, but as the celebration of a spiritual father whose
holiness was being officially recognized.
The Homily of Pius XI: Don Bosco Priest and Educator
The homily delivered by Pius XI during the solemn Mass
remains one of the most significant papal texts concerning Don Bosco. The Pope
first presented the new saint as “John, priest of Italy,” underlining the
centrality of his priesthood. All his educational work sprang from his deep
union with Christ and his total fidelity to the Church.
Pius XI highlighted several fundamental characteristics of
his holiness: firmness of faith, heroic charity, pastoral courage, and
ecclesial obedience. Don Bosco was not merely a philanthropist or a social
reformer, but an authentic apostle of the young.
Particular emphasis was given to the educational dimension
of his mission. The Pope presented him as a father and teacher of youth,
capable of understanding the hearts of the young and guiding them through the Preventive
System founded on reason, religion, and loving-kindness. In an era marked by
ideological tensions and profound social change [Fascism in both Italy and
Germany], the Church thus proposed a model of active holiness, rooted in
pastoral charity and educational commitment.
St. Peter's Square packed for Don Bosco's canonization
An Event of Strong Ecclesial and Cultural Impact
The canonization had an immediate and lasting impact. It
strengthened the identity of the Salesian Family and gave renewed impetus to
Catholic education throughout the world. The letter Geminata Laetitia and the homily
of Pius XI became reference texts for reflection on holiness lived in pastoral
action and on the urgency of Christian education for the young.
The broad popular participation testified to Don Bosco’s
profound spiritual and cultural influence. The presence of thousands of young
people in St. Peter’s was an eloquent sign: the Church recognized in him a saint
for modern times, an educator capable of uniting faith and human development.
The canonization was therefore not merely a liturgical act,
but an event of living magisterium. In a period of great social and political
transformation, the Church renewed her commitment to youth, presenting Don
Bosco as a model for priests, educators, and Christian communities.
A Meaning that Endures through Time
Nearly a century later, the canonization of April 1, 1934,
remains an event rich in significance. It represents the fulfilment of a long
process of ecclesial discernment, a visible manifestation of the Church’s
vitality among the young, and a pedagogical and spiritual point of reference
for future generations.
The holiness of Don Bosco, proclaimed on the day of the
Resurrection, continues to shine as a sign of hope. It reminds us that holiness
is possible in daily life — in playgrounds and schools, in educational service
and pastoral dedication. And the Church continues to look to St. John Bosco as
father, teacher, and intercessor for young people thruout the world.
