Turin
Stored: Turin
| Populated Place: Turin | |
| 45.0703, 7.6868 | |
| Status (Church Vitality): | Active |
| Historic: | Yes |
| Type: | City |
| Country: | Italy |
| Subdivision: | Piedmont |
| Founded: | |
| Population: | 841000 |
| Catholic Population: | |
| Catholic Percentage: | 80% |
| Official Languages: | |
| Catholicism Introduced: | |
| Catholicism Status: | |
| Parishes: | 400 |
| Notable Catholic Sites: | Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (housing the Holy Shroud); Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians; Superga Basilica |
| Patron Saint: | Saint John the Baptist |
| Website: | https://www.comune.torino.it |
Turin (Italian: Torino) is a major city in northwestern Italy, serving as the capital of the Piedmont region and the Archdiocese of Turin. Located along the Po River at the foot of the Alps, it has a population of approximately 841,000 (as of 2024 estimates) within a metropolitan area exceeding 2 million. As one of Europe’s historic centers of Catholic devotion, Turin is renowned worldwide for safeguarding the Shroud of Turin, a relic venerated as the burial cloth of Christ, and for its deep Marian piety exemplified by Saint John Bosco’s founding of the Salesian order at the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians.
History
Turin traces its origins to a Roman military camp named Augusta Taurinorum, established around 28 BC. Christianity likely reached the settlement in the late 2nd or early 3rd century through trade routes from Milan, though the earliest documented bishop is Saint Maximus of Turin (d. c. 408–423), whose sermons survive as valuable witnesses to early Piedmontese faith.[1]
Early Settlement
Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Turin endured Lombard and Frankish rule. By the 11th century it emerged as the seat of the Counts (later Dukes) of Savoy, whose dynastic ambitions shaped Catholic Europe. The Savoy rulers promoted devotion to the Virgin Mary and supported the construction of numerous churches, laying spiritual foundations that endured through centuries of political upheaval.
Catholic Evangelization
The Counter-Reformation invigorated Turinese Catholicism. Saint Francis de Sales served briefly as coadjutor bishop (1602) and left an enduring pastoral imprint. The 17th century witnessed the miraculous intervention attributed to Our Lady of Consolata during a plague outbreak, cementing the city’s Marian identity. In 1842 the Salesian Congregation was born under Saint John Bosco, who ministered to impoverished youth amid rapid industrialization; his basilica at Valdocco became a global pilgrimage destination.[2]
The 19th-century acquisition of the Shroud of Turin by the House of Savoy transformed Turin into a focal point of Eucharistic and Passion-centered spirituality. Public expositions—most recently in 2015—drew millions of pilgrims.
Modern Faith Life
Despite secularizing trends, Turin sustains vibrant Catholic life. The Archdiocese reported approximately 400 parishes in 2024, with active youth movements, perpetual adoration chapels, and robust participation in the annual Feast of Saint John the Baptist (June 24). The city hosted the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress satellite events and remains a hub for Salesian missionary formation.[3]
Geography and demographics
Turin lies at Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 1: attempt to index global 'coordinates' (a nil value). on a broad plain bounded by the Po and Dora Riparia rivers, covering 130 square kilometers. Its alpine backdrop facilitates winter pilgrimages to mountain sanctuaries such as Oropa.
As of 2024 estimates, the municipal population stands at 841,000, with Catholics comprising roughly 80% according to diocesan baptismal records (though practicing adherence is lower).[4] Italian is the official language; Piedmontese dialect persists in liturgical and cultural contexts.
The archdiocese encompasses 400 parishes, numerous monasteries (including the Benedictine Sacra di San Michele visible from the city), and over 60 Catholic schools. Key sacramental sites include the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (Duomo di San Giovanni Battista), housing the Shroud of Turin; the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians (Maria Ausiliatrice), heart of Salesian worldwide apostolate; and the hilltop Superga Basilica, a baroque masterpiece and royal mausoleum. Devotion to Saint John the Baptist as patron remains vigorous, marked by processions and the lighting of the farò bonfire.
Government and culture
Turin operates under a mayor-council system. Catholic festivals punctuate the civic calendar: the Feast of Saint John the Baptist (June 24) features historical parades and fireworks; the Ostension of the Shroud (when proclaimed) mobilizes global pilgrims; and the Feast of Our Lady of Consolata (June 20) draws thousands to the ancient sanctuary.
Architecturally, the city blends baroque splendor (Guarini’s Chapel of the Holy Shroud) with neoclassical elegance (Superga by Juvarra). Catholic influence permeates museums, with the Diocesan Museum displaying medieval reliquaries and Renaissance masterpieces.
Notable Catholic figures
- Saint Maximus of Turin (d. c. 420) – early bishop and homilist.
- Saint Francis de Sales (1567–1622) – briefly coadjutor; Doctor of the Church.
- Saint Joseph Cafasso (1811–1860) – “Priest of the Gallows,” spiritual director to Saint John Bosco.
- Saint John Bosco (1815–1888) – founder of the Salesians; patron of youth.
- Saint Leonardo Murialdo (1828–1900) – educator of the poor.
- Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925) – layman and alpinist; model for Catholic youth.[5]
Related
References
- ↑ "Archdiocese of Turin". GCatholic.org. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/turi0.htm.
- ↑ "Biography of St. John Bosco". Vatican.va. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/2009/ns_lit_doc_20090426_bosco_en.html.
- ↑ "Diocesi di Torino – Statistiche". Diocesi di Torino. https://www.diocesi.torino.it.
- ↑ "Archdiocese of Turin – Statistics". GCatholic.org. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/turi0.htm.
- ↑ "Beatification of Pier Giorgio Frassati". Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/2008/ns_lit_doc_20080520_frassati_en.html.