On Tuesday 25th March, delegates of General Chapter 27, elected a new Rector Major to lead the Salesians for, at least, the next six years.

The delegates elected Fr Ángel Fernández Artime to become the 10th Successor of Don Bosco.

Fr Ángel Fernandez Artime was born on 21st August 1960 at Gozon-Luanco, Spain. He made his first profession on 3rd September 1978 and was ordained a priest on 4th July 1987. Originally from the León province, Fr Fernández has been a Youth Ministry Delegate, Rector of the School at Ourense, Member of the council, Vice-Provincial and from 2000-06, Provincial of León. He also has a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology and a licence in Philosophy and Pedagogy.

In 2008, Fr Fernández was a member of the technical commission for the 26th General Chapter. In 2009, he was appointed provincial of the South Argentina province, which he has carried out until today. While he was the provincial he got to know and work with, the then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, better known as Pope Francis.

Fr Fernández had been appointed Provincial of the new province of Mary Help of Christians in Spain, which due to today's appointment, he will not be able to fulfil this role, as he will be exercising his ministry as Father of the entire Salesian Family.

In his first address, speaking in Spanish, Fr Fernández said, "I abandon myself to the Lord. We ask Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians to accompany us and to accompany me, with my brother Salesians and with the Congregation, and I accept with faith."

We wish Fr Ángel all the best in his new role as Rector Major!