Dear Salesian Family & Salesian Young People:

A blessed Easter to all of you!

It is with joy that we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is with sadness that we mourn the loss of our Holiness Pope Francis.  May he rest in eternal peace, and may he continue to pray and intercede for our Salesian Family.

As many of you know, I and 230+ delegates just came back from the 29th General Chapter, which took place in Turin, Italy, from February 16 to April 9.  I was looking forward to the scheduled Salesian audience with Pope Francis on April 11, when the new Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, and his Council were going to be introduced to the Pope.  But we knew weeks before that, because of his ill health, of the probability that it would be cancelled.  That day, we went to St. Peter’s Basilica, we entered the Holy Doors on this Holy Year, and we celebrated the Eucharist with the Rector Major presiding.  We prayed for Pope Francis, for the Salesian Congregation and the entire Salesian Family, and for you, young people.  Personally, I prayed for each one of you.

Our founder Don Bosco encouraged “filial loyalty to Peter’s successor and to his teaching…” (Salesian Constitution 13).  Let us be in solidarity with the Church and with the world by not only mourning the loss of Pope Francis and praying for God’s mercy on his soul, but, more importantly, by living the Gospel of Joy that Francis proclaimed with his life and his teachings.

It really is great to be back home.  I hope to see you soon.

Sincerely in Christ and in Don Bosco,

P. Mel