LETTER “CENTESIMO EXEUNTE”
OF POPE JOHN PAUL II

To my beloved san EGIDIO VIGANO’ Rector Major of the Society of St Francis de Sales

The centenary year of the death of St John Bosco, Founder of the Society, is coming to an end, and my mind goes back to so many memories frolli which I draw strength and consolation as I recall the highlights of the celebrations which bave punctuated it.
Many have been the meetings with young salesian pupils coming from every part of the world; but especially prominent and vivid in my memory is the pilgrimage I made to the places associated with your Founder far the pastoral purpose of expressing my feelings of gratitude to God far having given to the Church so outstanding an educator. Already at the outset of the jubilee year I wrote you a Letter drawing attention to the particular mission and charisma of Don Bosco and his spiritual sons and daughters in the art of the formation of youth, and I also recommended to all who work amongst the young that they should follow faithfully the ways he had marked out, adapting them to the needs and characteristics of the present dar.
Today's problems in the field of youth confirm, in fact, the enduring relevance of the pedagogical method devised by St John Bosco and centred on the need to protect the young from negative experiences; to provide a positive education through valid suggestions and examples; to build on the interior freedom with which they have been endowed; to establish with them relationships of genuine friendship; to stimulate their innate abilities by means of reason, religion and loving kindness (cf. Letter 0131 January 1988, llll. 8,10-12).
It is my earnest wish that the fruits of this commemorative year should long endure in the Salesian Family, as also in the universal Church which has recognized in Don Bosco and continues to see in him a shining model as an
apostle of the young. And so, acceding also to the desire of many of my fellow Bishops, of the Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, of the Cooperators and PastPupils, and of large numbers of the faithful, in virtue of my Apostolic Power I declare and proclaim St John Bosco to be the ”Father and Teacher of Youth" (Hluventutis Pater et Magister") , decreeing that he be honoured and invoked under this title, especially by those who see themselves as his spiritual children.
In the sure hope that this decision may contribute to an ever greater cultivation of devotion to this dear Saint and prompt many people to imitate bis zero as an educator, I impart to you, to your confreres and to the entire Salesian Family my propitious Apostolic Blessing.
	From the Vatican, 24 January 1989, the memorial of St
Francis de Sales, in the 11th year of my Pontificate,
	Joannes Paulus pp. II