Egidio Viganò

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Egidio Viganò (June 29, 1920 – January 23, 1995) was an Italian priest of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the 7th Rector Major of the Salesian Order, serving from 1977 until his death in 1995. Although born in Sondrio, Italy, he considered Chile his second home after moving there at age 19 to pursue his formation and mission. He studied philosophy and theology, earning his theology degree at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in 1949, and later spent a year of study in Rome in 1961. He participated in the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965).

In 1968 he became the Provincial of Chile and president of the Chilean Conference of Religious Superiors, and he took part in the Latin American Bishops’ Conference in Medellín. He was elected Rector Major on December 15, 1977, and served as Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome from 1978 to 1995. He was a member of the Synod on the Family from 1980 to 1995 and, in 1983, served as president of the Religious Superiors General in Rome.

During his tenure, Pope John Paul II beatified Salesian martyrs Luigi Versiglia and Callisto Caravario in 1984, and the Pope visited Colle Don Bosco, reaffirming Don Bosco’s legacy. Laura Vicuña was blessed that year, and Don Bosco was honored with the title Father, Teacher and Friend of the Youth. Viganò was reelected Rector Major on May 15, 1984. In 1990 the General Chapter elected him to a third term. He also oversaw the opening of the Institute for Communication Science at the Pontifical Salesian University in 1993 and witnessed the beatifications of Filippo Rinaldi (1990) and Maddalena Morano (1994). He was present at the 1991 Synod for Latin America in the Dominican Republic. He died in Rome on January 23, 1995, while still serving as Rector Major, with his vicar Juan Edmundo Vecchi guiding the government. He is especially remembered in Chile, where he had spent much of his life.