The structure served as the main seat of the American College in Rome for almost a century. This changed as a result of the situation developing in Europe in 1940, when the American seminarians were forced to depart "en masse" on May 31 of that year. In the end, they had to complete their studies at various seminaries back in the United States. The property, while remaining in the possession of the bishops of the United States, was requisitioned for "charitable wartime employment" in 1943. Until mid-1947, it served as a home for displaced Italian children. Later that year, the property was returned to the use of the American College. Under the direction of Martin J. O'Connor, Rector of the College, a general restoration of the whole complex was begun. With the construction of a new and larger campus at Villa Gabrielli on the Janiculum, the buildings on Via dell'Umiltà were rechristened the "Casa Santa Maria," and set aside for the use of priests pursuing graduate studies at universities in Rome. That continues to be its primary function today.