With Joy and Hope
ANS Interviews the Rector Major
on His First Anniversary
(ANS – Rome – March 25, 2026)
- On the occasion of the first anniversary of his election as rector major,
ANS is pleased to present this special interview with Fr. Fabio Attard. Marking
this significant milestone in his service to the Congregation, the 11th successor
of Don Bosco reflects on the journey of the past year — its challenges, graces,
and defining moments. He speaks about the centrality of Christ, the strength of
Salesian identity, the missionary dimension of the Congregation, the realities faced
by young people today, and the path forward in a rapidly changing world. With gratitude
and hope, this conversation offers a glimpse into the heart of his leadership and
his vision for the future of the Salesian mission.
1. Fr. Fabio, one year has passed
since your election as rector major. How would you describe this first year of your
mandate?
I would describe it as a year of
discovery — discovering a reality that is diverse and complex at the same time.
Yet one thing I constantly confirm within myself, having served on the council before,
is the silver thread of the Salesian charism.
I continue to see how Don Bosco
is truly alive and present in the diverse contexts of the Congregation. In every
context, there is meaning in the way the Salesians are living their charism. For
me, this year has been a confirmation, on a much larger scale, of what I had already
known before I was elected rector major.
2. There have been many memorable
moments and events for you this year. What have been the most memorable moments?
Two memorable moments surface very
clearly in my mind and heart.
The 1st is the celebration of the
150th anniversary of the first Missionary Expedition. Thru those commemorative
celebrations, I had the opportunity to deepen my understanding of what happened
at that time, and then to relive those experiences both in Turin and in Genoa. There,
I rediscovered the greatness of Don Bosco — a firm believer who dared to look at
the globe with a missionary vision.
The 2nd moment was our visit
as the general council to Pope Leo XIV. We had the opportunity to meet the Holy
Father together. In a way, we imagined ourselves as Don Bosco and his councilors
meeting the Pope. It truly felt like a father meeting his sons and blessing us.
Those were 2 very powerful and meaningful moments for me.
3. Have you felt that some of
your dreams are already beginning to take shape? Are you content?
I would say it does not depend so
much on dreams. It depends more on the priorities that the [29th] General Chapter
has given us. My dreams are really to realize fully those priorities of the general
chapter.
We can express them in 4 main areas:
1st, strengthening the centrality
of Christ in our daily life.
2nd, developing an updated pastoral plan carried out with professionalism.
3rd, addressing the pastoral challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
And 4th, strengthening Salesian formation as an opportunity to deepen our charismatic
identity.
So my contentment comes from seeing
how we are gradually moving forward in these directions.
4. You have met the Holy Father,
Pope Leo XIV, several times this year. What message from him impressed you most?
Two messages from the Holy Father
touched me profoundly.
1st, he encouraged us to be prophetic
and courageous in announcing the Gospel to the young in a globalized context
where vocabulary is changing, images are changing, culture is changing, and social
situations are constantly evolving. He exhorted us to live within this context and
to allow the Gospel message to be integrated into it.
The 2nd message was his encouragement
to continue strengthening our missionary presence in difficult places. He
told us: you have the strength, you have the experience, you have the resources
to be present in the most dangerous and challenging situations. You are already
doing it — continue to do it, and even more. That encouragement was very strong
and affirming.
5. You have visited different
regions of the Congregation. Can you summarize your impression in 3 words?
This is a difficult question. The
3 words that summarize my impression are: alive, engaged, and proactive.
The Salesian Congregation is very
much alive — in different regions and in different ways, because it faces different
challenges. 2nd, I see that the Congregation is very much engaged in trying to be
as meaningful as possible to young people, especially the poor. 3rd, I see that
the Congregation is proactive in responding to new and emerging needs in different
parts of the world — in its growing concern for the poor, the most abandoned, refugees,
and social animation work.
6. What concerns or challenges
do you hear most frequently from the confreres?
The 1st concern is to grow even
more in our identity — our identity as believers and as Salesians of Don Bosco.
This was already a strong theme during the general chapter, and it continues to
emerge clearly in meetings. In this globalized world, we must make sure that our
identity is not weakened by our activities. I see this concern as something very
positive.
The 2nd concern is resources.
The more we are engaged with young people, the more we encounter their needs and
challenges. At times, both human and material resources are not sufficient. On one
side, this shows the need to grow in identity. On the other, it shows the need to
respond creatively to opportunities. Even if we see them as challenges, they indicate
a positive attitude toward our mission.
7. You have a special sensitivity
toward provinces and confreres living in situations of war and hardships. How do
you keep in touch and support them?
On the world level, we are witnessing
what political commentators — and even Pope Francis — have described as a fragmented
third world war. In many places, our Salesians are working amid conflict, civil
wars, guerrilla situations, and serious social problems.
I keep in contact with them thru
all available means of communication. I try to speak directly with those on the
ground. They greatly appreciate this closeness. I also make sure their situations
are made known thruout the Congregation.
For example, during our meetings
with Pope Leo, I made it a point to bring their stories directly to him. He showed
true interest and encouragement regarding these situations.
What impresses me most is their
determination to remain. Despite the difficulties, they do not express a desire
to leave. Their testimony and dedication are truly an honor to the people they serve
and an encouragement to us all.
8. What realities of young people
have struck you most during your visits?
In America, Asia, and Europe, I
have encountered a deep thirst for meaning among young people.
When you meet them in moments of
real dialog — not only in moments of celebration and singing, which are important
— but when you truly listen to them, you discover their desire for spaces of relationship
and belonging. They want to feel heard.
The questions that emerge from their
hearts reveal a desire for community and for meaning. Yes, there is a thirst
for spirituality in the widest sense of the word. When they are offered moments
of silence, reflection, and contemplation, they respond positively — especially
those who are already part of our houses and experiences.
9. One of your dreams is to help
confreres know and love Don Bosco more. What are your plans?
This desire arises directly from
the concern for identity expressed in the general chapter.
We already have many valuable formation
experiences across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Looking at their fruits,
we see they need to be strengthened and reinforced.
Recently, we decided to establish
a Center for Advanced Salesian Formation in Colle Don Bosco. This is not about creating
something entirely new, but about coordinating existing courses that are already
benefiting many — in youth ministry, spiritual direction, and Salesian leadership.
Many lay people today belong to
our mission not only functionally but charismatically. Deepening the charism and
discovering Don Bosco more profoundly is a real need emerging from their experience.
This center aims to respond to that need.
10. You have 16 members in your
general council. How do you value their contribution? Do you follow a specific leadership
strategy?
We are 16 members from 12 different
countries. This reflects the international dimension of the Congregation.
All of them have solid experience
in leadership and animation. Our main strategy is discernment. We listen
carefully to the challenges in different regions. We interpret them in the light
of the general chapter and what God is saying to us today. Then, together, in a
synodal way, we make decisions.
We try to allow all voices to be
heard. In the symphony of diverse voices, we seek to discern where the Holy Spirit
is leading us.
11. You collaborate with the
FMA Sisters and the Salesian Family. Do you also partner with other religious congregations
and global organizations?
Yes, with the FMA Sisters, collaboration
is very strong in many areas. For example, the Salesian Youth Movement is a beautiful
space of collaboration. In the area of schools as well, cooperation is very strong.
And within the journey of the Salesian Family, there are many areas where we walk
together.
Regarding other congregations, we
may not always have direct joint projects at the organizational level. However,
many congregations contact us to share our experiences. Recently, 2 congregations
asked us to offer sessions on leadership and to share our best practices in formation
and youth ministry. So even if there are no formal partnerships at the central level,
there is a real exchange of experience and learning.
At the same time, we also learn
from other congregations. We ask them what they are doing in areas where we are
engaged. This flow of sharing happens not only at the central level but also at
provincial and national levels.
In terms of global organizations,
we have a presence in Brussels thru Don Bosco International (DBI), at the United
Nations thru Don Bosco UN, and in Africa thru the African Union. Thru these presences,
we connect local realities with international platforms.
In the field of education and vocational
training, we collaborate not only with local governments but also with international
organizations that run projects in various parts of the world. We partner with them
to ensure that these projects truly reach young people and help shape their future.
12. The Salesians are the 2nd-largest
religious congregation. Despite the slight decrease in numbers, how do you perceive
the growth of vocations for the future? How do you plan to consolidate numbers and
presences?
There are 2 aspects here.
1st, regarding vocations, it is
clear that demographic changes affect vocational growth. For example, what we call
the vocational crisis in Europe is closely linked to changes in family structure
and lifestyle. We no longer have large families as before; we have nuclear families.
Now we are seeing similar shifts in parts of Asia — from patriarchal family systems
to nuclear families, from rural life to urban life.
This change should not be interpreted
as someone doing something wrong. Rather, it invites us to revisit our pastoral
model. How do we engage in education and evangelization in a postmodern society?
What language do we need to use?
At the same time, altho vocations
to consecrated life may be fewer in some areas, we are witnessing a significant
rise in lay mission partners who belong deeply to our mission. Today, when we speak
about a Salesian presence, we are not referring only to consecrated Salesians, but
to the educational-pastoral community — laypeople and Salesians sharing the same
mission.
Now, regarding consolidation: one
of the priorities of the Congregation over the last 20 years has been the consistency
of community life. Salesians are not present merely to ensure smooth functioning.
They are present to witness thru their consecration.
It is not about having one or two
Salesians scattered in many places. It is about having communities whose very life
is a message. If numbers decrease, we may need to merge presences, strengthen communities
that accompany multiple works, or even close some presences after serious discernment.
The vocational challenge may reduce numbers, but it must not weaken our identity.
13. You have 93 provinces working
in 137 countries. How do you foster unity and a shared vision in such a culturally
diverse Congregation?
This question touches the strength
of the charism.
When we gather for a general chapter,
we have more than 200 Salesians from around 137 countries. Yet, somehow, the
language of the charism is the same. The images, the references, the inspiration
— they are shared.
The Congregation is mature enough
to allow the strength of the charism within each Salesian heart to dialog with local
realities. The expression of our proposal may differ in a Christian context compared
to a non-Christian one. The vocabulary may change. But when we reach the heart of
young people — their desire for meaning, for love, for accompaniment — the Preventive
System speaks universally.
The strength of the Congregation
lies in being deeply rooted in our consecrated identity and deeply engaged in the
context where we serve. When we meet young people on a human level, with empathy
and respect, the charism finds its way.
14. What do you consider the
most urgent priority for the Salesian mission today?
The most urgent priority is our
identity.
If we lose our identity as believers
in the footsteps of Don Bosco, we risk being shaped entirely by the culture around
us. We would present a product instead of an experience.
Our identity — rooted in Gospel
values and enriched by the Preventive System — enables us to offer a humanity
inspired by Christ. The more we move forward, the clearer our identity must become.
15. How is the Congregation responding
to rapid cultural and digital changes affecting young people?
The digital challenge is being addressed
at various levels in different provinces. It is part of our reality, and we cannot
ignore it.
In many universities and centers,
this topic is already being studied seriously. What concerns us is: what is the
digital world saying to us as educators in the light of the Gospel?
I have proposed the idea of an international
think tank — not to produce documents, but to allow serious reflection on artificial
intelligence and digital culture at the leadership level, with the help of experts
from around the world. This reflection can then filter down to the provinces.
We must ask 2 questions: how
are we incorporating the digital into our mission, and how is the digital shaping
our thinking? Both must go together.
Interestingly, our insistence on
this challenge preceded the election of Pope Leo. When he also emphasized it strongly,
it confirmed that we are moving in the right direction.
16. What is the special contribution
that the Salesians give to the world today?
I believe it is the experience
of family spirit.
Often, when people enter a Salesian
house, they say, “It feels as if I have been here before.” That is the atmosphere
of family.
Being friends with young people
is not merely an action; it is an attitude. It does not mean they already know us.
It means we have decided to be with them and for them.
In places of conflict, people flock
to religious houses, like our Salesian houses because they know that these places
are spaces of welcome and protection. What Don Bosco offers is a sense of home —
a place of joy, welcome, and belonging.
17. Are Salesians continuing
to champion ecology and peace education? How is this seen today?
Yes. In recent general chapters,
we have given special attention to ecology.
When I visit our schools, I am always
struck by how clean, organized, and respectful the environments are. It is not about
being the best in class; it is about creating awareness for ecologically sound and
sustainable environments. And when you respect the person, you naturally respect
creation.
Regarding peace education, in many
of our presences there are young people from different religions and ethnic groups,
and yet there is harmony. Why? Because within our houses there is familiarity, respect,
and communion.
We do not ask for a certificate
of religion or ethnicity. There is fraternity and solidarity. Perhaps we need to
make this witness more explicit, but it is already deeply lived.
18. What sustains you personally
every day in this demanding mission?
What sustains me every day is prayer
life.
This mission is rooted in our consecration.
That is where we find nourishment, light for decisions, and encouragement to continue
serving the young. Being consecrated is not a detail — it is who we are.
From that conviction, we move forward together as a community, seeking to be Don
Bosco today.
19. Is there a Scripture passage
or Salesian expression that has guided you this year?
Yes — the passage I chose for the
strenna: “Do whatever He tells you.”
During the chapter, I felt we were
very open to what the Spirit was saying to us. In the Gospel scene at Cana, Mary
did not offer a solution; she offered an attitude. She invited trust and attentive
listening.
Today, rather than rushing to solutions,
we are called to ask: who do we need to be? We must be attentive listeners
to what the Spirit is saying and have the courage to move forward accordingly.
20. What has been the happiest
moment for you in this first year?
The meeting of Pope Leo with the
general council.
We did not have the opportunity
to meet Pope Francis during the general chapter due to his health, and Pope Leo
was elected after the chapter had ended. So when we were given an appointment with
him, I was very much looking forward to it.
He welcomed us like a father, treated
us like his sons, and encouraged us deeply. That was truly a defining moment for
me.
21. What has been the most challenging
moment in your first year?
My ongoing concern for confreres
in war and conflict situations.
Every week I am in contact with
them, accompanying them on a human and spiritual level. I also invite others to
accompany them in prayer.
Their feedback is deeply moving.
They feel part of the Congregation. They feel accompanied. And knowing that the
Congregation stands with them helps them face external challenges with courage.
22. As you begin your second
year as rector major, what word would you like to entrust to every Salesian around
the world?
Two words: Joy and Hope.
Joy, because what we are doing is
not ours — we are responding to God’s call. And hope, because that conviction fills
us with confidence for the future.
It is a joy that becomes contagious.
By living it, we witness it. And by witnessing it, we offer meaning and hope to
young people. In that way, tomorrow is already being shaped today.
