"Always count the needs of young people who need help"

Priest Angel Fernández Artime talks with reporters on the 13th in the historic center of Salcehio's old hall in Sindil Dong, Seoul.

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The first visit of Fr. Fernandez Artima Saleci (58), who visited Korea on March 13, was the Daelim Saleocio Youth Center, located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. In the case of a minor offender (minor aged 10 years or over but under 14, not criminally liable and not enjoying any criminal protection), resides with members of Salesios or more easily, Installation calibration.

"The first thing to do is let us know that the most important thing for us now is that you are the youth of the center," said the priest of Artime, We must reach the young people who need it and we should always look for young people who need help. "

The International Council of Salesians, with more than 16,500 people in 132 countries, always gives priority to young people. It was at the time of St. John Bosco (Don Bosco), nicknamed "the instructor and the father of the youth". in 1859 in Turin, Italy. Don Bosco (Italian, meaning Bosco) organized a dormitory called Oratorio for children wandering the streets, teaching techniques and studying. The same is true of the Korean company Saleshio, established in 1954. In 1963, he set up a dormitory for young workers and a seminary in Daelim-dong, Seoul, and in 1970, a Don Bosco vocational school in Sengil-dong. Volunteer Activities in the Medical and Educational Field in Sudan In 2010, Lee Tae-seok, a Zen Buddhist priest, was also a member of the Saleshio Society.

The priest of Artime is the tenth successor of Don Bosco. He joined the Society in 1973 and received the ordination of a priest in 1987. He was elected President in March 2014 as the highest leader of the Salesio Congress. Since then, I have traveled the world and met young people. Korea is the 82nd country that it has officially visited. Unofficially, I stayed in Korea for two days while waiting for a plane transfer to Mongolia in 2016.

Father Artima also fostered an atmosphere of peace on the Korean peninsula. I visited Imjingak on the 14th, the second day of my visit to Korea. "I think the good news of North and South Korea is very significant for the whole world today," he said, "only peace is the only way to choose." "It was good news that the two Koreas are making serious progress," he said.

Artime said it is concerned that an aggressive response to crimes committed by minors has been launched in recent years, including the abolition of juvenile offenders. "It's understandable that people are afraid of this (juvenile delinquency)," said Father Artima, "It's not a good idea to push these young people into a corner." "What's more important in our lives is to prevent young people from finding themselves in this situation," he said. "We have to help them do something worthwhile." Artime will return to Rome's headquarters on Thursday after a meeting with members of the Salesios and Cardinals.