The presentation took place during a cordial meeting between His Eminence and a small group consisting of the author of the book, Rinio Bruttomesso, and representatives of the Aldo Della Rocca Foundation, which promoted the publication: President Gian Aldo Della Rocca, accompanied by his wife Jadwiga Turbakiewicz, and Executive Secretary Roberta Pitino, as well as Juan Lazara, Director of the National Arts Fund of the Argentine Government, visiting Rome.
Also significant was the presence of Fr Francesco Motto, co-founder of the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS) and professor emeritus at the Pontifical Salesian University, and Fr Stanisław Zimniak, coordinating secretary of the ISS and the Association of Salesian History Enthusiasts (ACSSA), who thus intended to testify to the strong support that the ACSSA, of which the author Rinio Bruttomesso is a member, has given to the completion of this demanding research work.
Cardinal Artime expressed his appreciation and satisfaction for the fruit of research that closely touches on the history of the Salesian Family, precisely on the occasion of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of its first missionary expedition, in the wake of Don Bosco’s ‘Patagonian dreams’. He then expressed the hope of soon being able to hold in his hands the second volume, dedicated in particular to exploring the themes of the originality of the Salesian environment, not only for its unique physical aspects and the organisation of the various activities of the two Congregations, but also for the architectural results — often of absolute artistic value — of their countless interventions, beginning with those carried out in Latin America, a region particularly dear to the Cardinal, having spent many years of his apostolic commitment there.
