Ángel Fernández Artime was born 21 August 1960 in Luanco-Gozon, Asturias, Spain; he made his first profession on 3 September 1978, perpetual vows on 17 June 1984, in Santiago de Compostela, and was ordained a priest on 4 July 1987, in León.A native of the Province of Leon, he earned a degree in Pastoral Theology and a Licentiate in Philosophy and Pedagogy.He was a Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry, Director of the School of Ourense, a member of the Provincial Council and the Provincial Vicar, and from 2000-2006 he was the Provincial Superior.
After being part of the Preparatory committee which prepared the 26th General Chapter in 2009, he was appointed the Provincial Superior of South Argentina, based in Buenos Aires. In this capacity he also got to know and work personally with the then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, today Pope Francis.On 23 December 2013, he was appointed Superior of the new Province of Mediterranean Spain, dedicated to "Mary Help of Christians." But before he could take on this new role, on 25 March 2014 he was elected by General Chapter 27 as the new Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation and the 10th Successor of Don Bosco.
