The Polish church in Rome came into being thanks to Stanislaus Hosius, at whose request Pope Gregory XIII, during the Jubilee year of 1575, designated the former destroyed temple of S. Salvatore Dei Pensili for the construction of the Polish church. The temple was taken over on 6 December 1578. The church was rebuilt thanks to funds from the royal couple, Ana Jagiellon and Stefan Batory, and donations from magnate families.
In 1591, the church was conserved by Cardinal Jerzy Radziwiłł. A hospice caring for Polish pilgrims and students was established at St Mary's.
The Ciołek coat of arms of Stanisław August Poniatowski can be seen above the presbytery, as the church was rebuilt during his reign in 1757.
In the church there is also:
. - a painting from the mid-18th century. "Communion of St. Stanislaus", depicting Stanislaus Kostka,
. - a sculpture by Tomasz Oskar Sosnowski, "Removal from the Cross",
- painting "St. Jadwiga of Silesia under the Cross" painted by Szymon Czechowicz,
- painting "Resurrection of Peter" created before 1754, by Tadeusz Kuntze.