A special message to Salesian Cooperators from Antonio Boccia, the World Coordinator

It’s not enough to say, “I’m with the Pope,” to really feel on the right side. In a time struck by tensions, conflicts, and words that often divide more than they unite, true solidarity is not expressed with a slogan. It is born rather from a deeper choice, which is rooted in the values of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: love for one another, mercy, justice, truth, peace.

Saying that you are with Leo XIV can be a good start, especially when his words strongly recall these values. But the Gospel is not satisfied with statements. It demands consistency; it demands a life lived. Even distancing yourself from political statements that generate division cannot stop at words; it must translate into a different style that builds bridges rather than walls.

Being “witnesses and peacemakers” is exactly what it means: to carry the Gospel into your everyday life. Not theoretically, but concrete. In the way we talk, in the way we respond to provocations, and in the ability to really listen to people who think differently. Words can hurt, but they can also heal. They can close or open. It’s up to us to choose.

For a Salesian Cooperator, all this is not something abstract. It’s a vocation. It’s the way to be in the world. The style of Don Bosco teaches us that peace is built with presence, with attention to people, especially to young people and to those who are more fragile. You don’t need flashy gestures: you need loyalty, patience, a look capable of seeing the good possible even in the most difficult situations.

Peace is built in small things: in family, at work, in daily relationships. When we choose not to feed unnecessary controversies, when we try to understand before judging, and when we care for someone without expecting anything in return – that’s where the Gospel takes flesh.

Ultimately, being with the Pope really means this: letting yourself be changed by the Gospel and translating it into life. Not to appear, but to be, in your own little way, a credible sign of a possible peace. A peace that makes no noise, but which, step by step, builds something different.