(ANS – Rome) – On the evening of Tuesday, January 28, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome, a dialogue titled “Fr. Fabio Attard in Dialogue with the Young People of the Salesian Youth Movement” took place. The event was moderated by RAI journalist Benedetta Rinaldi, a former Salesian past pupil. The meeting, which was also livestreamed on the ANS YouTube channel, was part of the first day of the Triduum in preparation for the Feast of St. John Bosco, helping to create an atmosphere of listening and spiritual preparation for the solemn celebration of the saint of young people.

The evening opened with remarks by Fr. Francesco Marcoccio, Rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, who greeted those present by recalling the value of the Salesian charism and its vital connection with young people and the Church’s educational mission.

In her introductory remarks, Benedetta Rinaldi shared a personal testimony, recalling her experience in the Salesian Youth Movement and acknowledging how the joy, smiles, and accompaniment she received profoundly shaped her human and professional journey. This reflection led to the first question addressed to the Rector Major: how can we live our Christian identity today in a world that often discourages dialogue and rewards popularity?

Fr. Fabio Attard responded by placing the question within the current context, marked by fragility and fear but also by a strong desire for meaning. The world has changed, he said, but young people have not lost their capacity to seek authentic happiness. In this scenario, the Salesian group is not a refuge from the world, but a “furnace” that forms people interiorly and prepares them to face reality with a strong backbone, capable of witnessing without aggression or compromise.

Returning to the theme of the group, the moderator highlighted the risk that youth experiences may become exhausted or self-referential. Fr. Attard responded clearly: an authentically Salesian group is, by its very nature, “outgoing.” It is not a place that holds people back, but an environment that generates responsibility and a desire to give back. The group, he emphasized, does not simply offer activities, but creates relationships and forms people capable of serving others.

In this regard, the Rector Major shared experiences from various international contexts—from Spain to Latin America—describing young people who choose to “give back” what they have received in oratories and youth centers. These are often quiet gestures, but they are full of evangelical power, making the group a source of light and support for the most vulnerable.

The dialogue then reached its most intense moment with the second question: “How do we forgive, even when we don’t want to forgive?” Fr. Attard explained that forgiveness does not arise from sheer willpower. Forgiving does not mean denying pain or justifying evil, but choosing not to remain imprisoned by the wound. Often, he noted, forgiveness is a decision that comes before the feeling itself: entrusting to God what the heart is not yet able to resolve. It is a journey that requires time, truth, and accompaniment, but one that opens the possibility of a future, even within group life.

In this context, the Rector Major emphasized that the experience of the group is not something belonging to the past, but a living heritage. It is not a phase to be set aside, but an educational and spiritual legacy that continues to guide choices, relationships, and responsibilities over time.

The third question, posed by Benedetta Rinaldi, focused on the theme of youth leadership, which is often reduced to visibility and personal success. Fr. Attard clarified that, within the Salesian charism, leadership means taking on real responsibility. Don Bosco entrusted young people with real tasks because he believed in their abilities. A striking example is Michele Rua, who was called to lead an oratory at just sixteen years of age. Being protagonists does not mean being in the spotlight, but serving and building.

The dialogue concluded with a question from the young people about Fr. Fabio Attard’s own experience of accompanying young people in his ministry. With simplicity and gratitude, the Rector Major described accompaniment as one of the most demanding and fruitful experiences: walking alongside without taking over, respecting each person’s pace and fragility. In relationships with young people, he added, it is often educators who are transformed, as young people teach adults how to hope.

In the spirit of the Triduum and in preparation for the Feast of Don Bosco, the evening dialogue left a clear message: only young people capable of forgiveness, responsibility, and joy can become credible signs of hope in today’s world.