Speaking before the faithful gathered at the Sanctuary of St John Paul II, Fr Attard expressed the joy of the Congregation and of the whole Salesian Family spread across the world. “It is a day of great celebration for all those who form part of the Salesian mission,” he said, welcoming the nine new Blesseds into “the whole host of saints of that Family founded by St John Bosco himself, our Father and Teacher”.
The Rector Major invited all present to give thanks to God for what he called “our new Salesian Blessed”, recalling the powerful message displayed on the T-shirts worn by the young people participating in the celebration: “In a world full of violence and fear they remained faithful.”
“Faced with dangers of all kinds,” he affirmed, “our Salesian martyrs did not renounce Christ. They remained steadfast in their faith, strong in their Salesian vocation.”
A Contagious Experience of Holiness
Fr Attard underlined the symbolic significance of celebrating the beatification in a sanctuary dedicated to St John Paul II, who was personally connected with the new Blesseds. What took place in Kraków, he said, was “an experience of contagious sainthood: martyrs who have sown the seeds of further holiness”.
In his capacity as Rector Major, and in the name of the Salesian Congregation and the entire Salesian Family worldwide, Fr Attard expressed profound gratitude to the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for authorising the beatification through his Apostolic Letter. Addressing Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, who presided over the celebration as papal representative, he conveyed heartfelt thanks for having solemnly declared the nine martyrs Blessed in the Church.
He assured the Holy Father of the Salesian Family’s prayers, entrusting his intentions to the intercession of the newly beatified martyrs.
Communion of Church and Nation
The Rector Major also greeted Cardinal Grzegorz, Archbishop of Kraków since December 2025, acknowledging his presence as “a great blessing” and assuring him of prayers for his pastoral mission. He thanked the Cardinals and Bishops present, describing their participation as “a tangible sign of the communion of the Church”.
Special words of respect were addressed to Karol Nawrocki, President of the Republic of Poland, whose presence, he said, was an honour and a blessing. Gratitude was likewise extended to representatives of national and local authorities.
Fr Attard expressed particular appreciation to the Salesian community of Kraków and to Fr Dariusz Bartosz for organising the celebration, as well as to the many Salesians and lay collaborators who contributed to its preparation. He also thanked the numerous Salesians who had travelled from different parts of the world to attend.
A Message to the Young and to the Whole Salesian Family
Turning especially to the young people present, the Rector Major described the celebration as “a beautiful experience of what it means to be Church”. Their presence, he said, made the solemn liturgy even more meaningful and should serve as an encouragement to live the faith more deeply.
“May it confirm in our personal lives what our martyrs died for: that it is worth following Jesus, seriously and to the very end,” he said.
In a moving conclusion, Fr Attard addressed the nine new Blesseds by name — Jan, Ignacy, Karol, Ignacy, Franciszek, Ludwik, Franciszek, Włodzimierz and Kazimierz — thanking them for becoming Salesians, for placing their trust in Don Bosco, and for their holiness.
“May their witness inspire us all,” he prayed, “young and old alike. May it encourage us to profess our faith and remain faithful to our vocation with joy and hope. Before the throne of God, pray for us.”
With these words, the Salesian Family entrusted itself to the intercession of its new martyrs, whose fidelity in the face of violence now stands as a lasting sign of hope for the Church and for the world.
