Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, Rome

"Santa Maria Ausiliatrice" redirects here. For the church in Turin, see Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians, Turin.

The Church of Saint Mary, the Help of Christians in Via Tuscolana (Latin: Sancta Mariae Auxiliatricis Christianorum in via Tusculana) is a Roman Catholic Marian shrine, titular church and Minor Basilica of Rome.

The Church of Holy Mary, the Help of Christians in Tusculum Road
Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in Via Tuscolana Sancta Mariae Auxiliatricis in via Tusculana
The facade of the Minor Basilica
Click on the map for a fullscreen view
41°52′28.19″N 12°31′48.96″E
Location	Rome
Country	Italy
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Tradition	Roman Rite
Website	(in Italian) Official website
History
Status	Parish, Titular church, minor basilica
Architecture
Architect(s)	Nicola Mosso Giulio Vallotti
Architectural type	Church
Groundbreaking	1931
Completed	1936
Specifications
Length	78 metres (256 ft)
Width	43 metres (141 ft)
Materials	travertine
Administration
District	Lazio
Province	Rome
Clergy
Cardinal protector	Ángel Fernández Artime

Pope Paul VI established the Titular church Sancta Mariæ Auxiliatricis in via Tusculana on 7 June 1967 via the Apostolic Constitution Ad Gubernacula Christianæ. He raised it to the status of Minor Basilica via the Pontifical Decree Dulcia Christi Verba on 1 April 1969.

History

Pope Pius XI created this parish church on 25 March 1932, with the Apostolic Constitution Inter Pastoralis and entrusted to the Order of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The building was designed by architects Nicola Mosso and Giulio Vallotti between 1931 and 1936.

Interior

The interior follows a plan of a combination design between a Latin cross and Greek cross, with three naves. The walls and ceiling are decorated with frescoes of Baroque inspiration, made by Roman artisan Giuseppe Melle between 1957 and 1965.

Within the shrine are significant images focused on the Blessed Virgin Mary as “Help of Christians”. A namesake statue is enshrined in the high altar of the basilica, which its crown and scepter was blessed by Pope Paul VI on 5 December 1965, in preparation for the closure of the Second Vatican Council.

List of Cardinal Protectors

• Francesco Carpino as Pro illa Vice (1967–1978)
• Giuseppe Caprio (1979–1990)
• Pio Laghi (1991–2002)
• Tarcisio Bertone, SDB pro hac vice (2003–2008)
• Paolo Sardi (2010 - 2019)
• Ángel Fernández Artime (2023 - Present)

References

• Description of the frescoes of the church of Saint Mary Help of Christians in Via Tuscolana

External links

• Lucentini, M. (31 December 2012). The Rome Guide: Step by Step through History's Greatest City. Interlink. ISBN 9781623710088.

Media related to Santa Maria Ausiliatrice (Rome) at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by San Lorenzo in Lucina

Landmarks of Rome Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, Rome

Succeeded by San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio, Rome