Recalling the "great educational emergency" of which he spoke in his speech to the Diocese of Rome on 24th February 2008, Benedict XVI added: "Predilection and commitment for the young, which are the distinctive traits of the charisma of Don Bosco, must translate into an equally strong commitment for the involvement and training of the families". "Your youth pastoral must firmly open up to the family pastoral he went on . Taking care of the families does not mean taking care less of the young, but it actually means to make such care more lasting and effective". To ensure such a widespread apostolic commitment for the young, Benedict XVI finally exhorted the Salesian Congregation to have a "sound training. The Church urgently needs people of a sound, deep faith, of up-to-date cultural background, genuine humane sensitivity and strong pastoral feeling". About this, the Pope spoke of "priorities", exhorting the Congregation "to train with great care its members, without settling for mediocrity, overcoming the difficulties of vocational fragility, promoting a sound spiritual guidance and ensuring educational and pastoral qualification through ongoing training".
