Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, Rome

The Church of Saint Mary Help of Christians in Via Tuscolana (Italian: Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, Latin: S. Mariae Auxiliatricis in via Tusculana) is a parish and titular church, minor basilica of Rome.

Church of Saint Mary Help of Christians in Via Tuscolana Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in Via Tuscolana (in Italian) S. Mariae Auxiliatricis in via Tusculana
Santa Maria Ausiliatrice
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Rome
Rite	Latin Rite
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Parish, Titular church, minor basilica
Leadership	P. Felice Terriaca[1]
Location
Location	Rome, Italy
Shown within Rome
Geographic coordinates	41°52′28.19″N 12°31′48.96″E
Architecture
Architect(s)	Nicola Mosso, Giulio Vallotti
Type	Church
Groundbreaking	1931
Completed	1936
Specifications
Length	78 metres (256 ft)
Width	43 metres (141 ft)
Materials	travertine
Website
(in Italian) Official website

For the church in Turin, see Basilica di Maria Ausiliatrice.

The titulus S. Mariae Auxiliatricis in via Tusculana was established by Pope Paul VI on June 7, 1967, by the apostolic constitution "Ad gubernacula christianae".

History

Created parish church on March 25, 1932 with the Apostolic Constitution "Inter pastoralis" of Pope Pius XI and entrusted to the Salesians of Don Bosco, it was designed by architects Nicola Mosso and Giulio Vallotti between 1931 and 1936.

Interior

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

List of Cardinal Protectors

• Francesco Carpino, 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)

Notes

1. Official website of the vicariate of Rome Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine

References

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