In Chapter 4 of his autobiography Hope, Pope Francis offers a rare and intimate glimpse into this bond. He recounts how his father, Mario Bergoglio, found refuge and renewal within the embrace of the Salesian spirit. After losing everything, Mario was welcomed at the large Salesian house on Calle Solís in the Montserrat district of Buenos Aires — a sanctuary that became the cornerstone of the family's new beginning.

Mario's affinity with the Salesians was not accidental. As a Catholic of Piedmontese descent — the very region of Don Bosco — he naturally gravitated toward the Salesian charism. That connection would become deeply personal through the presence of Father Enrique Pozzoli, a Salesian priest originally from Senna Lodigiana in Lombardy, who arrived in Buenos Aires in 1906 at just twenty years old.

Fr. Enrique became much more than a parish priest; he was Mario's confessor at the Basilica of Maria Auxiliadora y San Carlos Borromeo, his spiritual guide and, eventually, the spiritual father of the entire Bergoglio family. Their relationship endured until the end — both Mario and Fr. Enrique passed away in 1961, less than a month apart.

Fr. Enrique's role in the family went far beyond the confessional. In a moment of financial desperation, he connected Mario with someone willing to lend the family 2,000 pesos—a crucial gesture that enabled Pope Francis's grandparents to open a shop in the barrio of Flores. This act of support marked the beginning of a life of mutual service and shared mission. Mario assisted Fr. Enrique in his social apostolates and was actively involved in parish life.

Pope Francis also shares vivid memories of Fr. Enrique's personality. He was not just a priest but a multi-talented man: a keen photographer, a skilled watchmaker, and a dedicated missionary. His versatility and active presence embodied the Salesian spirit of being "all things to all people," especially the poor and the young.

The connection became even more sacramental when Fr. Enrique officiated the marriage of Regina Maria Sivori and Mario Bergoglio on December 12, 1935. But perhaps the most historically poignant gesture came later: it was Fr. Enrique who baptized Jorge Mario Bergoglio—the future Pope Francis. The only exception was his brother Oscar, who missed the priest's presence because Fr. Enrique was on a mission in Ushuaia at the time.

This baptism, offered by a Salesian, was no mere rite of passage. It was the beginning of a lifelong spiritual path — one deeply influenced by the Salesian model of pastoral love, tireless service, and closeness to the people. That Pope Francis often speaks of a "Church that goes forth" is no surprise, considering his early exposure to Don Bosco's vision through Fr. Enrique.

But Fr. Pozzoli’s impact extended even deeper into the heart of Francis’s spiritual life — especially his devotion to Mary, Help of Christians. As a young man, Jorge Mario Bergoglio would often visit the church in the barrio of Almagro to pray before the sacred icon of Mary Help of Christians. This particular image, blessed by Don Bosco himself and brought from Turin to Buenos Aires, was a symbol of deep spiritual heritage. The same church also served as the parish of Blessed Zeffirino Namuncurá, the young Mapuche saint of Patagonia, who was himself a beacon of Salesian holiness in Argentina.

This profound Marian devotion, nourished by Salesian spirituality, has remained with Pope Francis throughout his life. From his episcopal motto Miserando atque eligendo (By having mercy and by choosing him) to his frequent entrustments to Mary, the imprint of Don Bosco’s charism — carried by the hands and heart of Fr. Enrique — is unmistakable.

For Salesians around the world, this story affirms a powerful truth: the seeds we plant in hearts and families — through accompaniment, education, and compassion — can bear fruit in unimaginable ways. Pope Francis’s baptism and early formation by a Salesian is not just a historical footnote; it is a living testament to the quiet, faithful work of the Salesian mission and its enduring impact on the world.

 Source: Pope Francis, HOPE, The Autobiography