(ANS – Rome) – On a day full of significance, during the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Salesian Congregation officially inaugurated the renovated Salesian Central Headquarters at Via Marsala, 42, in the heart of the capital, next to the Basilica envisioned and built by Don Bosco. Three years of intense work have restored the “Sacred Heart” structure, making it modern in its functions while remaining faithful to the original spirit of its founder.
The inaugural program, moderated by the General Councillor for Youth Ministry, Fr. Rafael Bejarano, began at 11:30 a.m. with the words of welcome by Fr. Francesco Marcoccio, the Rector of the Salesian Community at the Headquarters. He presented the concept of the new house through the lens of a dream: a dream that has become a reality with this new inauguration and that remains firmly grounded in its most evident pastoral dimensions: the youth center, the service to the poor, migrants, and refugees, and the basilica. All these elements, he affirmed, make it “a harbour on land.”
Following this, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major, emphasized the institutional value of the headquarters, highlighting how the new structure bridges two seemingly distant worlds: the institutional, relating to the apparatus and offices of the Salesian Central Headquarters, and the welcoming home, characteristic of every Salesian work. It is a house for everyone – Salesians, members of the Salesian Family, laypeople, youth, migrants, the poor, and refugees who gather in the area near the railway station – and, in true Salesian spirit, it is also a center of education, formation, and accompaniment. It is a house that, through the work of many people, multiplies the Rector Major’s presence in the world, making his service broader and more effective. Finally, it is a house that always keeps “the Sacred Heart of Jesus at its center, in a charismatic dimension that connects us to Don Bosco.”
The Rector Major and 11th Successor of Don Bosco, Fr. Fabio Attard, then delved into the historical and current significance of the new Salesian Central Headquarters, drawing a bridge between the past and the present. Fr. Attard recalled how Don Bosco spent nearly two years of his life in Rome, across 20 trips during an era far less connected than today. He highlighted the reasons for Don Bosco’s frequent Roman stays – from his love for the Pope and Rome to the approval of the Constitutions, as well as practical matters such as episcopal appointments and fundraising. After taking a broad look at Don Bosco’s life and its symbolic milestones, he focused specifically on the significance of the Salesian presence in Rome.
While Don Bosco in the 19th century emphasized the importance of this Salesian house in Rome, stating that “evangelizing the (then) Roman countryside will be no less important than evangelizing Patagonia,” today, Fr. Attard declared that at the Sacred Heart centre “you can feel the breath of the whole world.” Its mission is no longer geographically limited but now extends worldwide.
The guest of honor for the day, Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, former Prefect of Catholic Education and titular of the Basilica, fondly recalled his 13 years as cardinal titular of the Salesian basilica and his regular presence at Sunday celebrations. He then presented some challenges for Catholic education today, which make the Salesian presence still relevant and meaningful: first, the contemporary paradox of the multiplication of communication tools and the corresponding isolation of young people, to which the Church is called to respond by offering “centers of encounter – among people and, above all, with Christ!” Then, the challenge of forming educators, who serve as mediators of this encounter with Jesus the Savior. He also mentioned the challenge of overcoming the widespread culture that opposes faith and reason, religion and progress, and establishing dialogues that respond to the deepest questions of human existence. Finally, he pointed to the challenge of artificial intelligence, ensuring it remains a useful tool and does not turn against humanity or become an end in itself.
Representing the Municipality of Rome and its Mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, Barbara Funari, Councillor for Youth Policies, spoke about the role of the Salesian presence not only at the Sacred Heart centre but throughout the city: “The spirit of family and welcome that we perceive here is truly an incentive for the Administration to implement increasingly effective youth and social policies.”
Following the official speeches, the ceremony continued with the inauguration of the “Don Bosco House Museum” and the symbolic ribbon-cutting by Fr. Attard and Cardinal Versaldi. A prayer of blessing preceded the guided tour, which allowed guests to revisit the history of the Salesian work in Rome, from its origins to the new global educational challenges.
Numerous civil and religious authorities attended the entire day, including, in addition to the aforementioned personalities, the significant presence of Superiors General or their delegates from various religious orders (Jesuits, Franciscans, Scalabrinians, Sons of Divine Providence, and Oblates of Mary Immaculate) and other groups of the Salesian Family (primarily the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians), bearing witness to the ecclesial and Salesian communion of the event.
The festive day will conclude in the afternoon with the solemn feast Mass, presided over by Cardinal Versaldi. After three years, now that the restoration work has been completed, the Mass will be once again celebrated in the courtyard of the basilica. This will be followed by another customary tradition: the procession carrying the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the streets of the neighbourhood.
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