Mother Cabrini Statue to Replace Columbus at Arrigo Park

City officials announce new statue honoring Italian-American nun who founded schools and hospitals for immigrants

Feb. 23, 2026 at 9:55am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A statue of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, known as 'Mother Cabrini', will be installed at Arrigo Park in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood to replace a removed statue of Christopher Columbus. The decision comes after a public process that saw Cabrini win overwhelming support from voters. Mayor Brandon Johnson praised Cabrini's work founding schools, orphanages and hospitals that cared for Italian immigrants in the city over a century ago.

Why it matters

The replacement of the Columbus statue is part of a broader effort by the city to re-evaluate how it honors historical figures and cultural heritage. The decision to install a statue of Mother Cabrini, an Italian-American nun who dedicated her life to serving immigrant communities, reflects a shift towards recognizing the contributions of underrepresented groups.

The details

The city will begin searching for artist proposals for the new Mother Cabrini statue in the next two weeks. The Columbus statues at Arrigo Park and Grant Park were removed in 2020 amid racial justice protests. After years of the statues remaining in political limbo, Mayor Johnson announced last year that they would not be reinstalled, and the city would instead work to replace them with new memorials. The decision to install the Cabrini statue was part of a deal that resolved a lawsuit filed by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans over the Arrigo Park statue removal.

  • The Columbus statues at Arrigo Park and Grant Park were removed in 2020.
  • In May 2022, Mayor Johnson announced the Columbus statues would not be reinstalled and would be replaced.
  • The city will begin searching for artist proposals for the new Mother Cabrini statue in the next two weeks.

The players

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

An Italian-American nun who founded 67 orphanages, schools, hospitals and missionary orders before her death in Chicago in 1917. She was canonized in 1946.

Mayor Brandon Johnson

The current mayor of Chicago who praised Cabrini's work serving immigrant communities and announced the decision to replace the Columbus statues.

Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans

A group that filed a lawsuit over the removal of the Arrigo Park Columbus statue, and was involved in the deal to replace it with a Cabrini statue.

Italian American Human Relations Foundation of Chicago

A group that criticized the deal between the Park District and the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, calling it 'cultural treason'.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Mother Cabrini really embodies what I call the soul of Chicago.”

— Mayor Brandon Johnson

“Sure we want it back where it was. But the world has changed quite a bit.”

— Ron Onesti, President, Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans

“The statue will be hidden away indoors — out of public sight — as part of an undefined 'museum-style' exhibit. A sad final disposition of a statue of the heroic navigator whose voyages led to the introduction of Western European civilization and culture to a new world.”

— Lou Rago, President, Italian American Human Relations Foundation of Chicago

What’s next

The city will begin its search for artist proposals for the new Mother Cabrini statue in the next two weeks.

The takeaway

The decision to replace the Columbus statue with one honoring Mother Cabrini reflects a broader shift in Chicago towards recognizing the contributions of underrepresented groups and re-evaluating how the city honors its history and cultural heritage. The process has sparked debate, but the city is moving forward with an open and inclusive approach to selecting a new memorial that better reflects the diversity and values of the community.