(ANS – Rome – October 30, 2026) – On the evening of October 29, 2026, the liturgical memorial of Blessed Michael Rua, Fr. Fabio Attard, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, delivered the traditional “Goodnight” message to the Sacred Heart community at Salesian Headquarters.

The Holy Father’s Letter

Fr. Attard shared with the community a letter of appreciation from the Vatican Secretariat of State, dated October 21. The letter responded to a message the Rector Major had sent on behalf of the Congregation and the Salesian Family following the Holy Father’s recent hospitalization.

Pope Leo XIV expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the affection and support shown, as well as for the prayers offered for his speedy recovery. Invoking the gifts of joy and peace, he imparted his apostolic blessing to everyone who had joined in sending the message. The letter was signed by Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.

Fr. Rua, a “Successful Disciple”

The Rector Major recalled Don Bosco’s first successor, drawing on the papers presented by Fr. Aldo Giraudo and Fr. Francesco Motto at the 2010 International Congress on Fr. Rua.

Referring to Fr. Giraudo’s presentation, Fr. Attard explained that Fr. Rua showed the Church and the Salesian Family what it means to live as a “successful disciple.” He did so through the total and joyful gift of himself, attention to detail, and generous observance of the Rule, which he lived as an act of loving obedience to the Founder.

The Rector Major identified three essential elements of Salesian holiness:

• Unconditional surrender to God in the Oratorian vocation, for the salvation of young people. This vocation is lived with joyful and persevering love. Fr. Attard clarified that this is neither emotionalism nor self-centered gratification, but a commitment with personal and institutional spiritual and charismatic implications.
• A life lived constantly in the presence of God. Witnesses in the beatification processes describe in Fr. Rua a permanent mystical orientation expressed through prayer, contemplation, and the Eucharist, which was the source of his intense apostolic activity.
• Asceticism and simplicity in the service of the mission. For Fr. Rua, austerity was an essential dimension of the Salesian charism, not simply a matter of personal preference or choice. The Rector Major invited those present to reflect on this theme in an increasingly superficial and trivialized cultural context.

Four Characteristics and an Invitation

Fr. Giraudo concluded his reflection by identifying four characteristics emphasized by witnesses:

• A filial bond with Don Bosco. For Fr. Attard, this means not only loving Don Bosco but also knowing and studying him.
• A thoughtful, collaborative, and paternal leadership style.
• Humility that consistently gave prominence to Don Bosco. On his business cards, Fr. Rua wanted only his first name, last name, and title as a priest.
• The gift of counsel and consolation, exercised through his ministry as a confessor and spiritual director.

In facing today’s challenges, the Rector Major said, returning to the treasures of the Salesian Family and rediscovering Fr. Rua is a source of great consolation.

He then invited everyone to ask the Lord for “the gift of a miracle”: that Blessed Michael Rua be declared a saint.

His example, Fr. Attard explained, highlights the importance of leadership and provides meaning and vision for the humility with which the Salesian Family must address poverty.

He concluded with the invocation: “Blessed Michael Rua, pray for us.”