10/25/2026 MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Seven people, including four juveniles, were arrested early Saturday following a reported burglary at the Basilica of Saint Mary, where a $45 million restoration is underway. According to the Minneapolis Police Department, a security monitoring company called 911 around 12:55 a.m. on October 24 to report the break-in. With assistance from the company, officers arrested three adults and four juveniles. Police reported allegations involving burglary of a business, fleeing officers on foot and trespassing. The adults were booked into the Hennepin County Jail. The juveniles were processed through the department’s juvenile unit and later released. An arrest is not a conviction, and those accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. A police spokesperson told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that the Basilica reported damage and expected to release an estimate Monday, October 26. Police also said this was not the first unauthorized after-hours entry at the church. The juvenile unit is leading the investigation. Authorities had not publicly detailed how the individuals entered, which parts of the building were accessed or whether anything was stolen at the time of the update. MORE THAN A CENTURY OF MINNEAPOLIS HISTORY Construction of the Basilica began in 1907 under Archbishop John Ireland. Architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, who also designed the Cathedral of Saint Paul, designed the Minneapolis church in the Beaux-Arts tradition. Its first Mass was celebrated May 31, 1914, while portions of the interior remained unfinished. The church was formally dedicated in August 1915, and interior work continued during the following decade. In 1926, Pope Pius XI designated it a minor basilica, the first Catholic church in the United States to receive that designation. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The Basilica has also hosted charitable outreach, music, cultural events and community gatherings alongside its religious services. RESTORATION DURING THE REPORTED BREAK-IN The $45 million “Restoring Beauty, Inspiring Hope” campaign supports work intended to address deterioration and preserve the historic building. Moisture intrusion and Minnesota’s climate have contributed to damage to plaster and other architectural materials. The restoration includes work on plaster, stonework, stained glass, decorative painting, historic pews and exterior masonry, along with accessibility, safety and building-system improvements. After Easter services in April 2026, primary worship services moved to the lower-level Teresa of Calcutta Hall so work could proceed in the main sanctuary. The major restoration is expected to continue into 2027, with a goal of reopening the main worship space around Easter. EARLIER PRESERVATION EFFORTS Construction of Interstate 94 changed the surrounding neighborhood during the 1960s. In later decades, deterioration and moisture damage prompted parishioners, community members and preservation advocates to organize restoration efforts. The Basilica Landmark supports preservation of the building. The Basilica Block Party also became a fundraising tradition supporting those efforts. DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND INVESTIGATION CONTINUE The cost and extent of the reported burglary damage had not been released. Authorities had not publicly established whether historic materials, religious objects, construction equipment or restored areas were affected, or whether the incident was connected to the construction. The attached exterior and interior photographs illustrate the building; they do not document the reported break-in or its damage. Incident information: Minneapolis Police Department, including statements reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. Historical and restoration background accompanies the incident account.