【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2026 年2月22日羅馬慈幼總部訊】 – 在Marsala街耶穌聖心大殿莊嚴的感恩祭之後，教宗良十四世與慈幼會總部會院的會士們進行了一次親密而充滿共融的會面。上午10時30分左右，教宗在慈幼會小堂會見了在總部服務的慈幼會會士們，以及總會長和部分總部議會議員。這是一場兄弟般、樸實而又意義深遠的會面，會士們在會中感受到了鮑思高神父的精神和對伯多祿繼承人的孝敬之情。
總會長致詞：忠於鮑思高神父，愛戴教宗
教宗受到總會長的歡迎，總會長代表全體會友表達了對教宗來訪的喜悅和感激之情，稱這次來訪是「祝福、勇氣和希望的源泉」。
回顧聖心大殿的歷史，總會長提到了1880年4月5日教宗良十三世與鮑思高神父的會面。當時，教宗將建造這座聖殿的任務委託給了這位青年人的聖人。面對教宗的猶豫——他深知這項工程在資金上的困難——鮑思高神父的回答至今仍銘刻在慈幼會的記憶中：「教宗的意願就是對我的命令。」
在教宗澄清他無法提供經濟支持後，鮑思高神父回答說：「我並不向宗座祈求金錢，我只是懇求您的宗座祝福和那些能使這項事業受益的屬神恩慈。」
總會長強調，這對話對慈幼會而言，是忠於教宗、全心服事教會使命的永恆典範。今天，如同那時一樣，修會重申其「與聖伯多祿同在，緊隨聖伯多祿」的忠誠，以煥然一新的活力追隨梵蒂岡第二屆大公會議的足跡。
隨後，總會長懷著格外激動的心情，向教宗轉達了在戰亂地區工作的同工們的問候。 「我們與他們同在，我們為他們祈禱，我們以各種方式向他們表達我們人性和屬神的關懷，」他說道，並請求教宗為所有人降福。
教宗良十四世：「你們是寫在耶穌聖心上的標記」
教宗良十四世在講話中以若望福音（20:30-31）的經文開始，這段經文刻在小堂的講台上：「耶穌在門徒前還行了許多其他的神蹟，沒有記在這部書上……這些所記錄的，是為叫你們信。 」
教宗補充說：「在許多尚未被書寫的標記中，有奉獻生活。我想真誠地告訴你們：還有慈幼會團體。」
教宗以這番話，認可了修會是基督臨在世間並真實活著的標誌：這標誌或許無法用文字記載，卻深深雕刻在耶穌的心中。這個標誌透過慷慨地服務青年人，尤其是在飽受戰爭、貧困和衝突蹂躪的地區，持續彰顯出來。
教宗表達了他對在世界邊緣地區工作的慈幼會會士的親切關懷，並深情地回憶了他們在羅馬的服務，尤其是在中央火車站區域，慈幼會團體在那裡為許多意大利和外國青年提供熱情款待、教育和融入社會的機會。
一段個人回憶與家庭氛圍
在極度簡樸的氛圍中，教宗良十四世也分享了一段個人回憶：年輕時，在加入奧斯定會之前，他曾到訪過一個慈幼會團體。 「你們排第二，真遺憾，」他笑著說，引得在場眾人哄堂大笑。
他隨後以親切的語氣補充道，在他擔任教宗的頭十個月裡，他訪問的慈幼會團體比奧斯定會團體還要多，這表明他與他們保持著具體而真誠的親近關係。
教宗讚揚了慈幼會的精神，強調其在教育和牧民方面對青年人的豐富貢獻，並鼓勵會士們效法鮑思高神父，活出耶穌聖心的精神：一種積極的愛、奉獻和喜樂的精神。他總結道：「讓我們攜手同行，在教會內合一，在耶穌聖心內合一。」
降福與逐一慰問
會議結束時，教宗良十四世為所有在場的會士降福。隨後，他以極大的關注和慈父般的關懷，親自問候每一位會士，停下來與他們交談幾句，並給予他們個人的祝福。
這是一個充滿恩寵的時刻，當一個修會家庭以樸素的方式重申對教宗和教會的愛時，人們體驗到了這份恩寵。在總部的中心地帶，毗鄰良十三世所期盼、由鮑思高神父建造的聖殿，一段歷史與屬神的紐帶得以重新並延續，這段紐帶將繼續支撐著慈幼會在世上的使命：服務青年，特別是貧苦無告的青年，以此作為基督之愛的具體實現。
Pope Leo XIV to the Salesians: “Among the most eloquent signs is your consecration”
(ANS – Rome –RMG, 22 February 2026) – After the solemn Eucharistic Celebration in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Via Marsala, Pope Leo XIV experienced a moment of intense familiarity and communion with the Salesian Community of the Central Headquarters. At around 10.30 a.m., in the Community Chapel, the Holy Father met the Salesians who serve in the Generalate, together with the Rector Major and some members of the General Council. It was a fraternal, simple and profound meeting, in which the spirit of Don Bosco and filial affection for the Successor of Peter were palpable.
The Rector Major’s greeting: fidelity to Don Bosco, love for the Pope
The Holy Father was welcomed by the Rector Major, who expressed the joy and gratitude of all the confreres for the visit, describing it as “a source of blessing, courage and hope”.
Recalling the history of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Rector Major evoked the meeting on 5 April 1880 between Pope Leo XIII and Don Bosco, when the Pontiff entrusted the construction of the temple to the Saint of young people. Faced with the Pope’s hesitation – aware of the economic difficulties of the undertaking – Don Bosco replied with words that remain engraved in Salesian memory: “The Pope’s wish is a command to me.”
And to the Pontiff’s clarification that he could not offer financial support, Don Bosco replied: “I do not ask Your Holiness for money: I only implore your apostolic blessing and those spiritual favours that could benefit the undertaking.”
That dialogue, the Rector Major emphasised, is for the Salesians a permanent paradigm of devotion to the Holy Father and of full availability to the mission of the Church. Today, as then, the Congregation renews its fidelity “Cum Petro et Sub Petro”, walking with renewed energy in the footsteps of the Second Vatican Council.
With particular emotion, the Rector Major then conveyed to the Pope the greetings of his confreres working in areas of war and conflict. “We are united with them, we pray for them, assuring them in every way of our human and spiritual closeness,” he said, asking for the Holy Father’s blessing for all.
Pope Leo XIV: “You are a sign written in the heart of Jesus”
In his address, Pope Leo XIV began with the words of the Gospel of John (20:30-31), inscribed on the ambo of the chapel: “Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, performed many other signs that are not written in this book… these have been written so that you may believe.”
“Among the many signs that have not been written,” added the Pope, “there is consecrated life. And I would like to say to you sincerely: there is the Salesian community.”
With these words, the Holy Father recognised in the Congregation a living and present sign of Christ’s presence in the world: a sign that may not be ‘written’ in books, but is deeply engraved in the heart of Jesus. A sign that continues to manifest itself through generous service to young people, especially in contexts marked by war, poverty and conflict.
The Pope expressed his closeness to the Salesians working in the peripheries of the world and fondly recalled their service in Rome, particularly in the Termini area, where the Salesian community offers hospitality, educational programmes and opportunities for integration to many young people, both Italian and foreign.
A personal memory and a family atmosphere
In an atmosphere of great simplicity, Pope Leo XIV also shared a personal memory: as a young man, before entering the Augustinians, he visited a Salesian community. “You came second, I’m sorry,” he said with a smile, provoking laughter from those present.
In an affectionate tone, he then added that, in the first ten months of his pontificate, he had visited more Salesian communities than Augustinian ones, a sign of his concrete and sincere closeness.
The Holy Father praised the Salesian charism, emphasising the richness of its educational and pastoral service to young people, and encouraged the confreres to live the spirit of the Sacred Heart of Jesus following the example of Don Bosco: a spirit of active love, dedication and joy. “Let us walk together, united in the Church, united in the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” he concluded.
The blessing and personal encounter
At the end of the meeting, Pope Leo XIV imparted his blessing to all the confreres present. Subsequently, with great attention and fatherliness, he greeted each one personally, stopping to exchange a few words and give his individual blessing.
It was a moment of intense grace, experienced in the simplicity of a religious family renewing its love for the Pope and the Church. In the heart of the Generalate, next to the Basilica desired by Leo XIII and built by Don Bosco, a historical and spiritual bond was renewed that continues to sustain the Salesian mission in the world: to serve young people, especially the poorest, as a concrete sign of Christ’s love.