To the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II

E III, 1640

He requests that the construction of the church of St John the Evangelist in Porta Nuova be declared of public utility, in order to proceed with the expropriation of a strip of land that he is unable to purchase from the owner.

Turin, 16 April 1872

Your Royal Majesty,

In the city of Turin, from Piazza d'Armi to the Po River, there is a densely populated area about three kilometres long without any schools for children or churches for religious worship among its numerous inhabitants. In years past, the petitioner opened the Oratory of St Aloysius in that location with a school and playground for children, but when the street dedicated to St Pius V was extended, that building was divided into two parts and is no longer usable for its original purpose,

The undersigned priest, John Bosco, concerned about the deplorable condition of the Catholic citizens living in that part of the city, and with the aim of providing for their serious needs, with the help of charitable and pious people has purchased a piece of land between the aforementioned Via di S. Pio Quinto and Via Madama Cristina, facing Viale del Re, with the intention of building a church dedicated to St John the Evangelist that may also serve adults, with an adjoining large building to be used as classrooms, a hospice, and a courtyard where children may play, especially on Sundays and Holy Days, thus protecting them from the dangers of immorality and introducing them to some art or trade.

With the support of Divine Providence, work has begun, the boundary wall has already been completed, and while the distinguished Count Edoardo Arborio Mella, Engineer, is finalising the design of the church and the adjoining building, the materials and funds necessary for the planned construction are also being collected. The preliminary design accompanying this application demonstrates how the project in question would undoubtedly benefit the Christian population living in the area indicated. But in order to implement it, it would be necessary to proceed with the expropriation of the small strip of land marked in the preliminary design with a yellow line, belonging to Mr L. Enrico Morglia who refuses to consent to its transfer.

Since all attempts to persuade Mr Morglia to sell the aforementioned strip of land have been unsuccessful, the undersigned finds it necessary to appeal to Your Royal Majesty to declare the planned constructions to be of public utility, in accordance with Law No. 2359 of 25 June 1865, so that the undersigned may take the necessary steps to expropriate the aforementioned plot of land.

To achieve this goal, he appeals to Your Royal Majesty and based on the aforementioned law of 25 June 1865 begs you to declare that the buildings marked in the preliminary design signed by Cav. Trocelli and the Count della Veneria and in the attached plan, are of public utility, and to issue all other legislative provisions concerning the expropriation of the section of land located in said project, so that the undersigned may complete the work he has planned for the benefit of the inhabitants of Turin.

Awaiting your Majesty’s grace and favour...

Fr John Bosco