On the Eve of the Canonization - SF Audience with Pope Francis

       World - Vatican, 9 October 2022 -- October 8 marked a great day in the history of the whole Salesian Family. Pope Francis gave a special Audience to the 600 Salesian Brothers gathered for the canonization of Brother Zatti in Rome and this unique encounter was witnessed by 3000 members of 28 Salesian Family groups coming together for this auspicious occasion from all five continents.

       Following the invitation of the Rector Major, most of the Salesian Brothers from other continents arrived at the retreat house at Sacrofano near Rome. Among the EAO region Salesian Brother delegations represented all 12 provinces, including many SDB provincials.

       The Vatican Audience Hall of (Saint) Paul VI was the venue for the Eucharist, celebrated at 10 am by the Rector Major, Fr Angel F. Artime and concelebrated by a few hundred Salesian priests in the presence of almost all Salesian Family group delegations. Fr Angel invited everyone to the call for holiness while sharing the multi-faceted personality of Brother Zatti. A new Saint was presented as a model for every Catholic believer and for the Salesian Brothers in a special way.

       After the Eucharist came a short time of testimonies related to the new Saint, with the special presence of Mr. Renato Narvaez, who was graced by the unexplained health recovery that led to the canonization of Artemides Zatti. The whole large family and his younger brother, Br 'Obet' Narvaez were also present. Among the large crowd of participants were the groups from Argentina and from Boretto, Italy, the home-place of Zatti's family.

       At the end of the grace-filled morning came the special audience with Pope Francis. In his 4 point address the successor of Saint Peter highlighted Br Zatti first as a migrant who was accompanied by an excellent Christian community, secondly he presented Zatti as the 'relative of all the poor' - thanks to his constant and deep union with God.

       In third place the Pope highlighted Zatti as a Salesian Brother living his consecrated missionary life in the community with joy, sympathy and close fraternity. Lastly, the Jesuit Pope underlined the value of Zatti as an intercessor for the Brother's vocation, as happened during his personal experience as Argentina provincial.

       At the end of the Audience Pope Francis personally met one Brother from each province. Thanks to the dynamic posting on social media you can follow the vibrant participation of most of the EAO Salesian Brother groups.

       All Canonization related events are available on the YouTube channel (Vatican) and all the photos on ANS Google drive. We hope that the EAO participants in the canonization events will soon share their personal insights and inspirations for the growth of the Salesian charism in the world.

       Resources:

       Boscolink - Canonization of Brother Artemides Zatti

• https://www.bosco.link/resources/81474
• https://www.bosco.link/resources/82087

       ANS photos from the October 8 event (Hall of Paul VI)

• https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1V45CQ_5fBZOd-eekw1LWNDAni3QcJGX6?usp=sharing
• https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1w7pJ7UeOXftthfKfSSSfhBJlSS_SJIn_?usp=sharing

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