It is with great joy that we share with you the news that our founder, Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini has been be venerated as a Saint by Pope Francis on the 9th of October 2022.
Our Founder has the title, Father of Migrants, as more than one century ago he had a vision to take care of migrants. He was the first person in history to formally present a petition to the Pope to have an office in the Vatican dedicated to the care of migrant communities.
We know how much migrants, refugees, seafarers and all people involved in human mobility are dear to the Holy Father’s heart. Many times he has pointed out to the Church and society the duty to welcome them, protect them, promote their living conditions and value their contribution to common coexistence. In proclaiming John Baptist Scalabrini a saint, Pope Francis wants to indicate to the Church the model of a bishop who not only gave himself completely to the good of his people, but also extended his heart to the sisters and brothers whom life had taken far from home.
As we thank the Holy Father for this gift and rejoice that our Founder is recognised as a model to be imitated, we feel even more empowered to keep alive the charism he passed on to us and to dedicate ourselves to the service of the vulnerable, where people are not discarded, but are appreciated and valued in their uniqueness and diversity.