(ANS – Rome) – On the morning of Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the General Councilor for the Missions, Fr. Jorge Mario Crisafulli, visited the headquarters of Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (VIS) in Rome to lead a morning of formation, learning, and exchange with all the staff at the VIS headquarters and representatives from various countries and offices around the world.

Also in attendance were the Vice President of VIS, Fr. Luca Barone, SDB—newly appointed President of the nonprofit organization Missioni Don Bosco in Turin—and the President, Dr. Michela Vallarino. Following Fr. Barone’s introductory remarks, Dr. Vallarino presented the structure of VIS and highlighted its 40 years of service to Salesian missions worldwide and to Salesian Italy.

The overview of VIS was further complemented by the Director General, Dr. Chiara Lombardi, and Dr. Riccardo Giannotta from the Programs Office.

The General Councilor for the Missions then took the floor, introducing himself right away as a “street priest.” He shared that he is originally from Patagonia and that he served for many years as a missionary in West Africa, particularly in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.

Fr. Crisafulli also outlined the priorities and objectives identified by the General Council for the next six years, emphasizing in particular the focus on young people in vulnerable situations. His missionary experience and Salesian passion enriched the presentation with many practical examples.

The final part of the intensive morning was dedicated to open dialogue, including comments, questions, answers, and feedback. Fr. Crisafulli’s concluding prayer and blessing in Twi—a language spoken in certain regions of Ghana—set the tone for a moment of sharing, fraternity, Salesian joy, and agape among all those present.

Overall, the meeting offered an opportunity to initiate further processes of synergy and collaboration between VIS and the Congregation, which are already closely connected in many countries, with the goal of strengthening global networking.

In light of the recent structural changes within VIS—which, at the end of last year, transitioned from an Association to a Participatory Foundation to reinforce its relationship with the Salesian Congregation and enhance organizational stability—Fr. Crisafulli’s visit represented an important step toward building strong and effective relationships aimed at improving service to the Salesian mission at both the central and global levels.