“Almost hidden,” that’s how the Parish of the Holy Child of Peace is often described. Let’s discover its secrets. This church sits among the office buildings on the western side of Paseo de la Reforma. Some people call it Parroquia de Praga because it’s on Praga Street.
The Parish of the Holy Child of Peace stands out with its Germanic Neo-Gothic style. It is not common in Mexico City. Once, this chapel was the private oratory for the Escandon family. They built it on their land where their homes stood from 1900 to 1901.
Around 1923, Mrs. Catalina Escandon wanted to fulfill a promise. She had made it in 1911 to Pope Saint Pius X. She wanted the image of the Child God to be worshipped publicly. The Pope had blessed this image. It would be known as the Holy Child of Peace. People believe the Pope responded to the Mexican Revolution. The revolution had just ended.
The first stone of the Parish of the Holy Child of Peace was placed in 1923. But the church wasn’t finished until 1938. The Cristero War delayed the construction.
Today, the Parish of the Holy Child of Peace is an important example of historicist architecture. It was built in the 20th century. It’s now a recognized example of Neo-Gothic style in Mexico City. The Secretariat of the Interior recognized it as a temple in 1931. So when you visit, remember the Escandon family’s devotion. Remember the promise to the Pope. Remember the history held within these walls of the Parish of the Holy Child of Peace.