The Salesians of Don Bosco (or the Salesian Society, officially named the Society of St. Francis de Sales) is a Roman Catholic Latin Rite religious institute founded in the late nineteenth century by Italian Priest Saint John Bosco to help poor children during the Industrial Revolution. The institute is named after Francis de Sales, an early-modern bishop from Geneva. The Society has its headquarters at Rome, Italy. It has a large network worldwide, having more than 17,000 members in 2,711 houses. It is the third-largest missionary organization in the world.
The Salesians of Don Bosco are headed by the Rector Major and the Society's General Council; each of the ninety-four geographical provinces is headed by a Provincial. These officers serve six-year terms; the Rector Major and the members of the General Council are elected by the Chapter General, which meets every six years or upon the death of the Rector Major. Each local Salesian community is headed by a superior, called a Rector (or more commonly, "Director"), who is appointed for a three-year term and can be renewed for a second three-year term. The current Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco is the Very Reverend Father Ángel Fernández Artime.
