Pope Pius XI created this parish church on 25 March 1932, with the Apostolic Constitution Inter Pastoralis and entrusted to the Order of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The building was designed by architects Nicola Mosso and Giulio Vallotti between 1931 and 1936.

The interior follows a plan of a combination design between a Latin cross and Greek cross, with three naves. The walls and ceiling are decorated with frescoes of Baroque inspiration, made by Roman artisan Giuseppe Melle between 1957 and 1965.

Within the shrine are significant images focused on the Blessed Virgin Mary as "Help of Christians”. A namesake statue is enshrined in the high altar of the basilica, which its crown and scepter was blessed by Pope Paul VI on 5 December 1965, in preparation for the closure of the Second Vatican Council.

• Francesco Carpino as Pro illa Vice (1967–1978)
• Giuseppe Caprio (1979–1990)
• Pio Laghi (1991–2002)
• Tarcisio Bertone, SDB pro hac vice (2003–2008)
• Paolo Sardi (2010 - 2019)
• Ángel Fernández Artime (2023–Present)

• Description of the frescoes of the church of Saint Mary Help of Christians in Via Tuscolana

• Lucentini, M. (31 December 2012). The Rome Guide: Step by Step through History's Greatest City. Interlink. ISBN 9781623710088 - Buy this book.

Media related to Santa Maria Ausiliatrice (Rome) at Wikimedia Commons