Rector Major of the Salesians

The Rector Major of the Salesians (also known as successor of Don Bosco) is the title of a Catholic priest that is elected as the general superior of the 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 since 1874, the year that was officially created the Order and approved the Salesian Constitutions by the Holy See, until his death in 1888. Since then, the Salesians elect their Superior in the General Chapter for a period of six years.

Between 1888 and 2010 there have been nine successors of Don Bosco, seven of them of Italian nationality, one Argentine and one Mexican. Following the Salesian tradition from their Italian origin, the Rector Mayor as addressed as Don (Father)

• DON GIOVANNI BOSCO (1815–1888)

Successor:

• I. Don MICHELE RUA (1837–1910), dichiarato BEATO dalla Chiesa il 28 ottobre 1972,

Rettor Maggiore dal 1888 (morte di san Giovanni Bosco) al 1910;

• II. Don PAOLO ALBERA (1844–1921),

Rettor Maggiore dal 1910 al 1921;

• III. Don FILIPPO RINALDI (1856–1931), dichiarato BEATO dalla Chiesa il 29 aprile 1990,

Rettor Maggiore dal 1922 al 1931;

• IV. Don PIETRO RICALDONE (1870–1951),

Rettor Maggiore dal 1932 al 1951;

• V. Don RENATO ZIGGIOTTI (1892–1983),

Rettor Maggiore dal 1952 al 1965;

• VI. Don LUIGI RICCERI (1901–1989),

Rettor Maggiore dal 1965 al 1977;

• VII. Don EGIDIO VIGANO' (1920–1995),

Rettor Maggiore dal 1977 al 1995;

• VIII. Don JUAN EDMUNDO VECCHI (1931–2002),

Rettor Maggiore dal 1995 al 2002;

N.	Name	Pic	Life	From	To
IX	Pascual Chávez Villanueva		20 dicembre 1947	2002	in carica