(ANS – Rome) – The 2026 Message of the Rector Major to the Salesian Youth Movement has gained renewed vitality through its recent video presentation, in which the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB, addresses young people across the globe directly and personally. Although the message had already been officially released, this new format allows its core themes to resonate more vividly, fostering deeper engagement and connection.

Thanks to the contribution of the Salesian Youth Ministry Sector, the message has evolved into the first step of a genuine multi-voiced dialogue with young people from around the world. Reflecting on the thoughts of Don Bosco's XI Successor, they have further developed the conversation in a truly Salesian spirit marked by listening, accompaniment, and synodality.

At the heart of the Rector Major's message are three essential invitations for today's young people.

First, he calls for the cultivation of a culture of reasoning—a willingness to think critically and to remain attentive to the realities unfolding around us. In a world often dominated by superficial reactions and hasty judgments, young people are encouraged to pause, reflect, and assume responsibility for understanding reality with depth and maturity.

Second, drawing inspiration from Pope Leo XIV, the message emphasizes the rediscovery of authentic friendship. True friendship, it explains, is not founded on convenience or popularity, but on sincerity, fidelity, and shared growth. This vision strongly echoes the charism of the Salesian Youth Movement, where friendship becomes a privileged path of human and spiritual formation.

Third, the Rector Major recalls Pope Leo XIV's firm appeal regarding truth and communication. Young people are invited to use language that is truthful and respectful—never arrogant, aggressive, or ambiguous. In this way, communication becomes a bridge for dialogue rather than a source of division.

These themes converge in a powerful spiritual image: Mary invites us to listen, while Pope Leo calls us to authentic friendship. Listening, friendship, and truth thus emerge as guiding attitudes for young people who live the SYM charism in today's world.

Adding a distinctive richness to the initiative are the video messages of young people from across the globe, including voices from Australia, Mongolia, Hong Kong, India, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Italy, Ukraine, Damascus, Poland, Portugal, Angola, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire. Their reflections demonstrate how the Rector Major's message speaks concretely to diverse cultural contexts while uniting them in a shared Salesian spirit.

Through this format, the Rector Major's message becomes more than a document—it becomes a global conversation. It reaffirms that the Salesian Youth Movement is a living journey: a community that listens attentively, builds authentic friendships, and courageously bears witness to the truth in today's world.