Post by Michael Fassnacht

Lately there has been some encouraging progress being made toward preserving St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Chicago’s Riverdale neighborhood, the childhood church and parish school of Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV. As 10th Ward Alderman Peter Chico noted, expressing a sentiment shared by many Chicagoans: “It was a sight to see, people literally crying, dropping to their knees. You’re walking the same ground the pope did, and it’s so humbling for so many people.” The church, where the Prevost family worshipped throughout the future pope’s adolescence, is a simple modernist structure built in 1957. Located at East 137th Street and South Leyden Avenue, the property also includes the parish school that Pope Leo XIV attended. Although the church closed in 2011 and was purchased by Joe Hall at auction in 2022 for $320,000, discussions are now plans being considered to reopen the site as a historic and cultural destination. Plans under consideration include exhibits highlighting both Pope Leo XIV’s life and the rich history of the parish. Hopefully, the church can be restored and transformed into a place of inspiration, reflection, and pilgrimage, honoring Pope Leo XIV’s life, legacy, and impact on the Catholic community in Chicago and around the world. Please read here the full reporting in Crain's Chicago Business': https://lnkd.in/gyyskEce