Holy Name Cathedral (Chicago)

Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, one of the largest Catholic dioceses in the United States. The church serves as the episcopal church of the Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich. It seats 1,100 people.

Dedicated on November 21, 1875, Holy Name Cathedral replaced the Cathedral of Saint Mary, which was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The cathedral underwent repairs and renovations in 1888, 1968 and 2008. A fire in 2009 caused major damage to the roof and water damage to interior but the cathedral was repaired that year. During the 1920s, two murders in gang wars likely involving Al Capone occurred outside the cathedral. The viewings of the remains of Cardinals George Mundelein and Joseph Bernardin drew large crowds in 1937 and 1996. Holy Name Cathedral hosted the international eucharistic conference in 1926 and a papal visit by Pope John Paul II in 1979.

Holy Name Cathedral contains massive bronze doors at its main entrance, a large hanging crucifix and the stations of the cross on the walls of the nave. The cathedral has two ambos, each decorated with images of the apostles. The altar podium displays four stories from the Old Testament and the cathedra has panels depicting the Christians teachers. The five sanctuary panels around the cathedra show key moments from the life of Jesus.