Big News for Chicago’s Little Italy! Saint Frances Cabrini Wins Vote to Replace Christopher Columbus Statue
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Big News for Chicago’s Little Italy! The Chicago Park District has officially selected Mother Cabrini as the new face of Arrigo Park. After a public vote, the "Patron Saint of Immigrants" was chosen to replace the former Christopher Columbus statue.
Mother Cabrini Statue to Replace Columbus in Chicago’s Little Italy
A new monument honoring St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American saint, is headed to Chicago’s Arrigo Park. The Chicago Park District announced on Feb. 18 that Mother Cabrini won a public vote to replace the Christopher Columbus statue removed in 2020 amid nationwide protests. Out of 3,900 votes cast, Cabrini secured 1,500, beating out seven other finalists of Italian descent, including Nobel physicist Enrico Fermi and educator Maria Montessori.
Chicago Honors the "Saint of Immigrants"
Chicago’s Near West Side is getting this new landmark. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini—the tireless advocate who founded 67 social institutions for the poor—has been chosen by the public to be memorialized in Arrigo Park. The decision comes four years after the park’s previous monument, a statue of Christopher Columbus, was removed following concerns over his impact on Indigenous communities.
Mother Cabrini’s resume is legendary:
1880: Founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Italy.
1889: Arrived at Ellis Island to serve impoverished Italian immigrants.
1890s: Expanded her mission to Chicago, building hospitals and schools that served all nationalities.
Mayor Brandon Johnson highlighted that her impact was "enduring," meeting the city’s strict criteria for civic contribution and historical significance. The design phase is now underway, marking a new chapter for the historically Italian American neighborhood of Little Italy.
The patron saint of immigrants, Mother Cabrini arrived in the U.S. in 1889 (died in 1917) and spent her life building a global network of 67 hospitals, schools, and orphanages. Mayor Brandon Johnson praised her legacy, noting that she didn't just serve families—she "built institutions that transformed lives." While a statue exists at Holy Name Cathedral, this will be her first memorial in a public Chicago park. The city is currently accepting design proposals through March 1.Source - https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/about-us/news/chicago-park-district-and-chicago-department-cultural-affairs-and-special-events
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