Protesters Rally Against Removal of La Pieta Statue from St. Adalbert Church in Pilsen; Permit Issue Holds Up the Move

Chicago Tribune ^ | 10/18/22 | Adriana Pérez

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English, Spanish and Polish melded as a group of about 40 people braved the cold to protest the removal of the La Pieta sculpture from St. Adalbert Church in Pilsen.

The removal, which was scheduled for Tuesday, was ultimately postponed due to a permit issue, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Protesters took breaks from chanting “Save our church!” and “Shame on you!” in order to pray in different languages, holding rosaries and American and Mexican flags up as they stood in an alley behind the church. About 30 police officers flanked the group.

“It just isn’t right,” said Anina Jakubowski, who was a regular at the church at 1650 W. 17th St. from when she was a kid until it closed in 2019.

She looked at the building. Since parishioners learned St. Adalbert Church would close, some of them have been fighting to reopen the church.

The removal of the La Pieta statue — which depicts Mary holding Jesus’ body on her lap after he’s brought down from the cross — would bring the church closer, protesters say, to a point of no return.

The Archdiocese of Chicago has said the replica of Michelangelo’s La Pieta statue will be moved from St. Adalbert to St. Paul Catholic Church, about a mile southwest.

“Parishioners will have access to worship before and better enjoy the sculpture in its new home,” said a statement from the Archdiocese of Chicago. “Moreover, this valued community treasure can be better safeguarded and preserved in an active parish church.”