(ANS – Rome) – The exhibition “Don Bosco: From Biographies to Comics” opened at the Pontifical Salesian University with a day of study and in-depth reflection aimed at placing the figure of Don Bosco within a broader horizon of historical, cultural, and communicative analysis. From the outset, the initiative was conceived as an opportunity for dialogue between Salesian scholarship and contemporary academic debate, bringing together the study of sources with attention to the languages through which holiness has been narrated and transmitted over time.
The program included an opening address by the Rector Magnificus of the University, Fr. Andrea Bozzolo, while the official opening of the proceedings was carried out by the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr. Fabio Attard. In his introductory remarks, after thanking the promoters of the initiative—the Don Bosco Study Center, in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Communication Sciences—he emphasized the importance of the theme, describing it as crucial not only for academic research but also for formation and education. He noted that returning to the sources of the history of the Salesian charism is essential in order to keep its message relevant without compromising its authenticity. In this process, the university plays a decisive role, as it is capable of combining fidelity to tradition with interpretive creativity, scientific rigor, and dialogue with the languages of the present.
This was followed by presentations by Prof. Lina Scalisi, Vice Rector of the University of Catania, and Prof. Roberto Alessandrini, a faculty member at the Pontifical Salesian University. Professor Scalisi addressed the theme The Story of Virtue: Biography and Holiness in Modern History, situating the biographical genre within a broader historical and cultural framework that extends beyond the specific case of Don Bosco and contributes to the historiographical debate on the construction of models of holiness in the modern era. Professor Alessandrini, in his presentation The Holy Educator: Don Bosco in the Popular Imagination, explored how the figure of the Salesian saint has been reinterpreted through the languages of mass communication, particularly in biographical comics, highlighting narrative and symbolic dynamics shared with contemporary popular culture. The inclusion of speakers from outside the narrower field of Salesian studies offered a wider perspective and encouraged fruitful dialogue between the Salesian tradition and contemporary historical, anthropological, and communication research.
The official opening of the exhibition was entrusted to Fr. Michal Vojtáš, Director of the Don Bosco Study Center, who invited the many participants to appreciate the exhibition’s “graphic and thematic balance.” The display brings together works of great scholarly rigor alongside popular and educational biographies, creating an effective visual and narrative dialogue. The “clear black-and-white” of documented historical biographies—such as those by Fr. Pietro Stella, Fr. Francis Desramauty Fr. Pietro Braido—is complemented by the “warm, watercolor tones” of narratives intended for young readers. These range from illustrated biographies of the 1930s, by authors such as Giovanni Cassano, Giovan Battista Calviy Augusto Piccioni, to the well-known comics by Jijé from the 1940s, and more recent Japanese manga.
Guided tours, led by members of the Don Bosco Study Center, allowed visitors to discover the remarkable richness of the collection on display: more than 600 titles dedicated to the life of Don Bosco. Among the most significant works are the earliest biographies by D’Espiney, Du Boysy Biginelli; the monumental project of the Memorie Biografiche (Biographical Memoirs) by Lemoyne, Amadeiy Ceria; and works connected to the period of beatification and canonization, such as the renowned biography by Johannes Jørgensen—originally written in Danish and translated into numerous languages—and the extensively documented biography by Msgr. Carlo Salotti (1929). For the contemporary period, Don Bosco: Una biografia nuova by Teresio Bosco stands out. Written in a journalistic and narrative style, it has been translated into at least 21 languages and remains a key reference for younger generations of the Salesian Family.
Beyond its documentary value, the exhibition is distinguished by several curatorial choices that enrich the visitor experience. Bilingual panels (Italian and English) and audio guides available in **four languages—Italian, English, French, and Spanish—**make the exhibition accessible to an international audience. Particularly appreciated is the concluding “reading corner,” a space designed to invite visitors to pause, read selected passages from the biographies, and share their impressions and reflections.
The entire initiative is the result of a collaborative effort involving not only the promoters but also numerous departments and institutions of the University and the wider Salesian community, including the Don Bosco Libraries and the Salesian Historical Institute, the LAS y LDC publishing houses, and various scholars who contributed their expertise to a shared project.
Source: unisal.it