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Fr Ángel Fernández Artime.
Born 21 August 1960 in Gozón-Luanco in Astxuria, Spain; he made his first profession on 3 September 1978, perpetual vows on 17 June 1984 at Santiago de Compostela, and was ordained priest on 4 July 1987 in León.
Originally from the Province of León, he gained his Degree in Pastoral Theology and Licentiate in Philosophy and Theology.
He was Delegate for Youth Ministry, Rector of the school at Ourense, member of the Council and Vice-Provincial and, from 2000 al 2006, Provincial.
After being part of the technical commission that prepared for the 26th General Chapter, in 2009 he was appointed Superior of the South Argentine Province with headquarters in Buenos Aires. He had the opportunity in this role to get to know and personally collaborate with the then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, today Pope Francis.
On 23 December 2013 he was appointed Superior of the new Province of Mediterranean Spain dedicated to "Mary Help of Christians", but before taking up this new role, on 25 March 2014, he was elected by the 27th General Chapter as Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation and the 10th Successor of Don Bosco.
On 11 March 2020 he was reconfirmed by CG28 as Rector Major for a second term 2020-2026.
From the Identity Card of the Salesian Family,
Art. 13: The Rector Major in the Salesian Family
Belonging to the apostolic Family of Don Bosco has its origin in communion and is nourished by communion. This consists in corresponding to the Spirit, who leads it towards unity, bringing into existence and giving practical and even official forms to it, so as to ensure an effective relationship and collaboration in activities.
Belonging to the Salesian Family, therefore, of necessity requires a vital centre which makes the reference to Don Bosco, the common mission and the same spirit, a reality.
This centre, according to the mind of Don Bosco, is the Rector Major. In him all recognise a threefold ministry of unity: successor of Don Bosco, common father, centre of unity for the entire Family. It falls within his official competence to admit to the Salesian Family the groups which request it, according to the pre-established criteria.
Since this is his mission, his duty is to offer the necessary guidelines to ensure the fruitfulness of the charism in each group of the Family.
Through his example and teaching he constructs unity and ensures in the variety of the specific vocations, fidelity to the spirit and the coordination of certain initiatives. He exercises this ministry with the paternity which was Don Bosco’s own: an approach that requires understanding and kindness, attention to the growth of each one, guidance in charismatic fidelity, commitment to the fruitfulness of the Salesian vocation in all its expressions, just as Don Bosco wrote: “Your Rector will have care of you and of your eternal salvation”.