Preservationists Aim for Landmark Status for St. Mary of the Assumption Chicago, Childhood Church of Pope Leo XIV

CHICAGO (WLS) — The last Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption took place in the summer of 2011.

The building has remained unused since then. Preservationists are optimistic that its ties to Pope Leo XIV, as the church he attended during his youth, will help it receive a unique status.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The once-abandoned church on a Far South Side corner has gotten the world’s attention with news that Pope Leo XIV spent his formative years there.

The faithful have been making pilgrimages to the church. Among them is Sally Rock, who used to belong to that parish.

“I think it’s going to be a destination for people around the world to see his birthplace, his birth home,” Rock said.

Ward Miller, Director of Preservation Chicago, is hopeful that the link to the Pope will ensure a promising future for this mid-century modern church, which is currently in a state of neglect.

“The key to safeguarding a landmark from being demolished or damaged is to secure a Chicago landmark designation,” stated Miller.

Joel Hall bought the 3.5-acre property a few years ago. It includes the church, a school convent and rectory. The entrepreneur plans to rehab it in phases and open a workforce education program.

“When I walked through the church for the first time before I bought it, it just felt right,” Hall said.

READ MORE | Brawls to blessings: Can Pope Leo’s Dolton roots help rebrand village plagued by political turmoil?

Hall rushed to the church the day Pope Leo’s election was announced and opened the doors to people who had already started gathering there. Hall says he also hopes it becomes a landmark.

“It just felt like this is where I need to be to restore what once was an anchor,” Hall said.

This Friday, Preservation Chicago will go before a committee of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks and recommend the city create a landmark district that would include many of the sites associated with Pope Leo XIV.

While a decision will be made right away, Miller hopes the process will be expedited.