This story comes from ANS, the Salesian news agency in Rome.
During an address to Brazilian businessmen on Saturday, March 19, the President of the United States [POTUS], Barack Obama, visiting Brazil on March 19 and 20 to extend and improve political and commercial links between the two countries, especially with regard to oil, mentioned Don Bosco’s dream about the city of Brasilia. Toward the end of his talk, which lasted about 20 minutes, the President said, “Brasilia is a young city – it will turn 51 next month. But it began as a dream more than a century ago. In 1883, Dom Bosco, Brasilia’s patron saint, had a vision that one day, a capital city of a great nation, would be built between the 15th and 20th parallels. It would be a model for the future and ensure that opportunity was the birthright of every Brazilian.”
“And today, this city and this country are indeed a model for the future, showing the world that democracy is still the best partner of human progress. As friends and neighbors who have lived the same story, we are eager to be a part of your future, and fulfill our American dream together.”
Don Bosco dreams of Brasilia: image in Brasilia's cathedral (Steve Widelski)The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a short report on Obama’s speech, with link to the full text: http://www.chamberpost.com/2011/03/obama-addresses-business-community-in-brasilia/
During Michele Obama's trip to Spain last August, she visited a Salesian church in Ronda. There, according to ANS, she claimed that her husband always carries a picture of Mary Help of Christians in his wallet: http://www.infoans.org/1.asp?sez=1&sotSez=13&doc=5424&lingua=2
Finally, the dream of Don Bosco that is reported to carry the prediction of the founding of Brasilia (it's hardly a clear prediction), called "Journey Through South America," may be found in the Biographical Memoirs of St. John Bosco, vol. 16, pp. 303-15.
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