(ANS - Rome) - Yesterday, 1 December, the book "Don Bosco Hoy" was launched by the Cervantes Institute in Rome at the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. It contains an interview given by the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, to the journalist Ángel Expósito. It also has twelve chapters on fundamental questions of the life and mission of Don Bosco, which, in the words of Dr Expósito, are very topical, because, "unfortunately everything he fought against 200 years ago in the Kingdom of Piedmont continues to occur again today."

by Andrés Felipe Loaiza, SDB

"There are six key issues Don Bosco fought against or for which he worked: violence, immigration and refugees, Africa and the missions, education and vocational training, social networks and communication, racism and xenophobia. He confronted all these with one approach: education" said the journalist. He expressed his satisfaction at being able to participate in the launch of the book, which also brought together several members of the Salesian Family who are experts in the topics of the twelve chapters that accompany the interview.

In his speech Fr Á.F. Artime highlighted various aspects of the book, and provided a telling example of the role of education: "As a religious family deeply committed to education, we believe that education transforms society (...). Let me give an example that is not meant to be in any way disrespectful to other faiths, but, I believe, throws some light on the topic: as a Salesian Family, about 30% of the 2387 foundations we have in the world are in Muslim countries. In some countries it is not possible to make any religious reference to religion and yet, in these circumstances we continue to give a service through schools that are mainly for Muslims. What's the point I am making? Education creates a network of human relationships which ensures that bombs, shootings and violence are not possible (…)”

When the parents of other faiths send their children to our schools, knowing how we educate, knowing that we will not teach any explicitly religious message - although of course we teach the values ​​we believe in – it is because they believe that this humanist way of educating (which includes deep evangelical values) will ensure that their children will have an outlook on life that they like (...). Those boys and girls, the parents of tomorrow, will have a different understanding of peace, of the relationship between man and woman, of violence and diversity ... Tell me if this is not transforming society."

In addition to the Ambassador of Spain, Dr Eduardo Gutiérrez Sáenz de Buruaga, the event was attended also by ambassadors to the Holy See, including those of Honduras, Panama and Colombia; Ms Carmen Magallón of the Editrice Romana; Father Giuseppe Costa, SDB, of the Libreria Editrice Vaticana; and the organizer of the initiative and director of the Cervantes Institute in Rome, Dr Sergi Rodríguez López.

Published 02/12/2015