To Pope Leo XIII

E X, 4501

He requests substantial financial assistance to complete the façade of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Rome.

Rome, 17 May 1887

Most Holy Father,

I leave Rome highly satisfied with the charitable and truly paternal welcome I received from Your Holiness.

The church and schools of the Sacred Heart are in place, and the inhabitants of this densely populated neighbourhood can comfortably fulfil their religious duties. The hospice for poor orphans must be completed, and if God grants me life, we hope to finish it.

We also have to pay for the church façade. If Your Holiness could help us in whole or in part with the remaining L. 51,000, our finances would be in order.

All of our 250,000 orphans pray every day for the good health of Your Holiness, for whom we all work wholeheartedly.

Please forgive my poor writing; I humbly beg Your Holiness's blessing for all the Salesians.

Your most obliged son

Fr John Bosco

Rector