The bell tower of the Iglesia Italiana Madre Misericordia pierces the Buenos Aires sky. Its blue and light blue majolica dome a beacon.
This isn’t just any church. This is where the first Salesians in Argentina began their mission. Founded in 1870 the Iglesia Italiana Madre Misericordia quickly became a spiritual home for Italian immigrants. They flocked here for their weekly devotions. The church’s very name ‘Mother of Mercy’ reflects the solace it offered.
Imagine the scene in 1875. Ten Salesians fresh from Italy arrived. They were sent by Don Bosco himself. They took over the pastoral care of the growing Italian community. The sacristy became their first classroom. The atrium their first oratory. This humble building was the genesis of Salesian work in the Americas.
The high altar is a masterpiece. Designed by Carlo Ceppi a Turin architect its beauty is breathtaking. The Repetto house of Lavagna Genoa crafted it using different colored marbles. At the center stands a wooden carving of Mater Misericordiae. This statue mirrors the one in Savona’s Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy. Except for one key difference. That one shows only a shepherd.
In 1915 Salesian Ernesto Vespignani redesigned the facade. He kept the mosaic intact. Then an early 20th century Dutch artist added the image of Mater Misericordiae. These layers of history resonate in the church’s very stones.
The church housed a treasure. A relic of Don Bosco from 1929. It was even displayed during the 2019 International Congress of Mary Help of Christians. Even the pipe organ a Vegezzi Bossi creation like the one in Almagro’s Basilica of Mary Help of Christians speaks volumes of this place’s heritage. Alas it is currently out of order. All the stained-glass windows come from Franz Mayer in Germany.
The Iglesia Italiana Madre Misericordia holds a secret. Prince Aimone of Savoy Duke of Spoleto and Aosta was buried here. He never really reigned though. He abdicated when Italy left World War II. He died in Buenos Aires in 1948. His remains were later repatriated to Italy. But for years this church held his earthly remains.
So gaze upon the Iglesia Italiana Madre Misericordia. More than a house of worship. It’s a living testament. A living story of faith perseverance and the enduring legacy of Italian immigrants in Argentina.