(ANS – Olgiate Comasco) – In a message signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the new complex in Olgiate Comasco named after St. John Bosco, Pope Leo XIV encouraged people to appreciate the role of oratories as “spaces of true fraternity” in the life of the Church and society.

With this message, the first Augustinian pope in history once again demonstrates his affinity with the thought of Don Bosco—a trait that has already emerged several times during the first months of his pontificate—as well as his closeness to the Salesians, whom he has met on several occasions during his travels and official engagements.

An Opening That Also Invites Reflection

The solidity of the foundation stone, laid on the site of the former “San Giovanni Bosco” Oratory in Olgiate Comasco, a small town in Lombardy just five miles from the Italian–Swiss border, is a sign of the vitality of these communities, which are essential for the life of both the Church and society as a whole. They are places called to build “authentic bonds” capable of overcoming “the isolation of our time,” especially among young people.

In the message signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo XIV sent his good wishes on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the new oratory, named after the Founder of the Salesians, which took place on Sunday, March 1, 2026, in the presence of Cardinal Oscar Cantoni, Bishop of Como.

The Oratory as a Place of Fraternity and Formation

In the message addressed to the parish priest of the Church of Saints Ippolito and Cassiano, Fr. Flavio Crosta, next to which the new youth ministry center will be built, the Pontiff expressed his hope that the center would offer “spaces of true human fraternity and Christian formation.”

Quoting one of the most well-known sayings of St. John Bosco, the priest recalled during his Sunday homily that it is not enough for young people to be appreciated: “they must know that they are loved.”

The laying of the foundation stone also marked the end of a long journey that began with the closure of the old oratory in 2017. Eight years were marked by nostalgia among those who grew up there, cherishing memories of carefree childhood days, until November 18, 2025, when Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, gave final approval for the construction of the new building.

The Vision of Attentive Youth: Rediscovering Community in the Time of “Neverland”

The design of the new oratory, conceived and developed by architect Alessandra Mastrogiacomo and validated by architect Carlo Valentini, has transformed spaces that were once separate and sometimes nonfunctional into welcoming and multipurpose environments.

A decisive contribution also came from the “young people of yesterday,” now established professionals and recently retired individuals, who generously placed their skills at the service of the Commission supporting the parish priest.

At the same time, the contribution of today’s young people was central. During the ceremony they offered a brief but powerful reflection:

“Are we really lost? In the time of ‘Neverland,’ we have rediscovered ourselves as a community. Without walls, we have learned to remain united; without a roof, we have learned to make ourselves at home. Because an oratory is not born of concrete, but of the gaze of those who know how to recognize in a young person something worth investing in.”

Leo XIV’s Closeness to the Salesians

Regarding Pope Leo XIV’s closeness to the Salesians, it is worth recalling that on several occasions—first during his meeting with the Salesian Community at Castel Gandolfo, and later on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the Salesian Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Castro Pretorio—the Pontiff jokingly revealed that during his own search for a vocation he had also visited a Salesian house, remarking:

“You came second, I’m sorry!”

He then added when speaking to the Salesians of the Sacred Heart community:

“But perhaps there is something that has remained in my heart, also united with you, in the Salesian community.”

Source: Vatican News