Rector Major of the Salesians

The Rector Major of the Salesians (also known as successor of Don Bosco) is the head of all institutes of the Salesians of Don Bosco worldwide (over 130 countries and 15000 institutions). It is the title of a Catholic priest that is elected as the general superior of the religious institute Salesians of Don Bosco. He is also considered the successor of Saint John Bosco in the top guidance of his Salesian Order. The first general superior of the order was Don Bosco himself from 1874, the year that the order was officially created and its Salesian Constitutions approved by the Holy See, until his death in 1888. Since then, the Salesians have elected their Superior in the General Chapter for a period of six years. Between 1888 and 2014 there have been ten successors of Don Bosco, seven of them of Italian nationality, one Argentine, one Mexican and one Spaniard. Following the Salesian tradition from their Italian origin, the Rector Major is addressed as Don (Father).

According to the Constitutions and Regulations of the Salesians of Don Bosco, the highest superior is the Supreme Pontiff to whom "They welcome his magisterium with docility and help the faithful, especially the young, to accept his teaching" (Art. 125) In the Salesian Constitutions of 1942, the Pope is mentioned as "arbitrator and Supreme Superior" even bound to vow of obedience (Art 49).

Then the Salesians have the Rector Major as the "superior of the Salesian Society" who is the "successor of Don Bosco, the father and center of unity of the Salesian Family" (Art. 126) The functions and responsibilities of the Rector Major are described in the chapter dedicated to the service of authority in the world community of the Salesians.

The Rector Major is concerned to promote the fidelity of the members of the Salesian Order to the Salesian Charisma (Art. 126) and he has the "ordinary power of government which he exercises according to law over all provinces, houses and members in both spiritual and temporal matters" (Art. 127) In these two functions, the Rector Major is supported by the General Council. These powers are enlisted in the Article 132 of the Salesian Constitutions and they are exercised with the approval of the General Council and accordingly with the Canon Law. Some of the most important are:

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