Salesians Elect New Rector Major!

This is from an article by Fr. Anil Kr. Toppo, SDB, writing in Don Bosco India:


Kolkata, Mar. 25. The 27th General Chapter has elected Fr Angel Fernandez Artime, Provincial of Argentina South, as tenth Successor of Don Bosco. The election took place at 10:20 on the first ballot.

The official announcement was welcomed with long and warm applause.

Fr Angel Fernandez Artime, 53 years of age was born on 21 August 1960, at Gozon-Luanco, Spain. He made his first profession on 3 September 1978, his perpetual profession on 17 June 1984 and was ordained priest on 4 July 1987. Originally from Leon Province, he has been Youth Ministry Delegate, Rector of the Salesian school at Ourense, member of the Provincial Council and Vice Provincial, and from 2000 to 2006, Provincial of Leon.

He was a member of the technical commission in preparation for General Chapter 26. In 2009, he was appointed Provincial in Argentine South, a task he has carried out until now. In this capacity he got to know the then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, and had the opportunity of working with him.

He has a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology and a Licenciate in Philosophy and Pedagogy.

On 23 December last year, he was appointed Provincial of the new province of Mary Help of Christians in Spain, a role which Fr. Angel obviously now will not be able to take on, since he will exercise his ministry as Father of the whole Salesian Congregation.


We thank Fr. Pascal Chavez for his long and devoted service, and we welcome Fr. Fernandez Artime!


May St. John Bosco and Mary Help of Christians guide his steps!