(ANS – Rome) – The 2026 Message of the Rector Major to the Salesian Youth Movement has taken on renewed vitality through its recent video presentation, in which the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB, addresses young people around the world directly and personally. Although the message had already been officially released, this new format allows its central themes to resonate more vividly, fostering deeper engagement and connection.

Thanks to the contribution of the Salesian Youth Ministry Sector, the message has become the first step in a genuine, multi-voiced dialogue with young people worldwide. Reflecting on the thoughts of Don Bosco’s XI Successor, they have expanded the conversation in an authentically Salesian spirit marked by listening, accompaniment, and synodality.

At the heart of the Rector Major’s message are three essential invitations for today’s young people.

First, he calls for cultivating a culture of critical thinking—a willingness to reflect thoughtfully and remain attentive to the realities unfolding around us. In a world often shaped by superficial reactions and rushed judgments, young people are encouraged to pause, reflect, and take responsibility for understanding reality with depth and maturity.

Second, drawing inspiration from Pope Leo XIV, the message highlights the rediscovery of authentic friendship. True friendship, it explains, is not based on convenience or popularity, but on sincerity, fidelity, and shared growth. This vision strongly echoes the charism of the Salesian Youth Movement, where friendship becomes a privileged path of human and spiritual formation.

Third, the Rector Major recalls Pope Leo XIV’s clear appeal regarding truth and communication. Young people are invited to use language that is truthful and respectful—never arrogant, aggressive, or ambiguous. In this way, communication becomes a bridge for dialogue rather than a source of division.

These themes converge in a powerful spiritual image: Mary invites us to listen, while Pope Leo XIV calls us to authentic friendship. Listening, friendship, and truth thus emerge as guiding attitudes for young people living the SYM charism in today’s world.

Adding distinctive richness to the initiative are video messages from young people across the globe, including voices from Australia, Mongolia, Hong Kong, India, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Italy, Ukraine, Damascus, Poland, Portugal, Angola, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire. Their reflections show how the Rector Major’s message speaks concretely to diverse cultural contexts while uniting them in a shared Salesian spirit.

Through this format, the Rector Major’s message becomes more than a document—it becomes a global conversation. It reaffirms that the Salesian Youth Movement is a living journey: a community that listens attentively, builds authentic friendships, and courageously bears witness to the truth in today’s world.

The full videos of the Rector Major’s Message to young people, along with the responses offered by youth to Fr. Fabio Attard, are available in four languages—Italian, English, Spanish, and French—at the dedicated link. Each language version is offered in two formats: one suitable for viewing on a computer and another optimized for sharing on social media platforms.