ANS – Rome) – Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, will be on retreat at the Santa Chiara convent of the Poor Clares in the Vatican from Friday April 12, 2024, until Monday, April 15th. A similar retreat is also being made by Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti, President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), who will be consecrated bishop together with the Rector Major on 20 April 2024.
In a conversation with the editorial staff of the Salesian Info Agency, the 10th Successor of Don Bosco spoke of this preparatory retreat, stating: “For me these days represent a time of silence and grace in which I can meet more deeply and intensely with God. I want to take advantage of the upcoming days of prayer and reflection to worthily prepare myself to receive this grace of episcopal ordination and to reflect on my future mission. I am convinced that these will be days of great value and importance for me.”
In these days, meanwhile, messages of spiritual support and prayer continue to arrive from the entire Congregation and the Salesian Family addressed to the Rector Major and also to future Archbishop Piccinotti in view of their consecration as bishops.
Further details on the Episcopal Ordination Mass on 20 April 2024, as well as on the First Mass as Bishops that Cardinal Fernández Artime and Archbishop Piccinotti will celebrate the following day, will be released in the coming days through the Salesian Info Agency.
Episcopal Ordinations of Card. Fernández Artime and Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti
(ANS – Rome) – The most recent two Sons of Don Bosco appointed bishops by the Holy Father will receive episcopal ordination together: on April 20 in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Cardinal Emil Paul Tscherrig, Apostolic Nuncio emeritus in Italy and in the Republic of San Marino, will consecrate Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Titular Archbishop of Ursona, and Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti, Titular Archbishop of Gradisca, President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA).
As co-consacrants of the two Salesians there will also be: Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, SDB, Archbishop of Rabat, Morocco; and Bishop Lucas Van Looy, SDB, Bishop Emeritus of Gent, Belgium.
A Spaniard from Asturias, originally from the small fishing village of Luanco, Ángel Fernández Artime was Superior of the Province of León, Spain, from 2000 to 2006, and of Southern Argentina, from 2009 to 2014. Elected in that same year as Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, then reconfirmed in 2020, he was appointed cardinal on July 9, 2023, and was created cardinal in the Ordinary Public Consistory of the following September 30.
Giordano Piccinotti, was born in 1975, in Manerbio, Lombardy, Italy. Economer of several Salesian houses, as well as of the Lombard-Emiliano Province (ILE) from 2011-2017, he was Director or Procurator of several Salesian foundations, as well as Treasurer of the Salesian VIS (International Volunteering for Development) NGO. In 2023, the Pontiff appointed him first Undersecretary and then President of APSA, and finally also President of the Board of Directors and of the Foundation for Catholic Health.
The episcopal ordination of two Sons of Don Bosco, and in particular of the Rector Major in charge of the Salesian Congregation, is an event that attracts the attention and lively participation of the entire Salesian Family.
For those who would wish to be physically present at the ceremony, participation in the celebration must be confirmed by April 10 by filling out one of the following forms: PRIESTS – RELIGIOUS AND LAY PEOPLE or by writing to the e-mail: ordinazione@apsa.va
For those who will not be able to attend the liturgy live, which will begin at 3:30 pm (UTC+2), it will be broadcast live on ANSChannel, the YouTube channel of the iNfo Salesiana Agency.
Editor’s Note: 3:30 pm in Rome is 6:30 am Pacific Time and 8:30 am Central Time.