Basilicas areCatholicchurch buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by thePope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be abasilica in the architectural sense (a rectangular building with a centralnave flanked by two or more longitudinal aisles). Basilicas are either major basilicas, of which there are four, all in theDiocese of Rome, or minor basilicas, of which there were 1,924 worldwide as of 2023[update].[1]
Numerous basilicas are notableshrines, often even receiving significantpilgrimages, especially among the many that were built above aconfessio or the burial place of a martyr; although this term now usually designates a space before the high altar that is sunk lower than the main floor level (as in the case in St Peter's and St John Lateran in Rome) and that offer more immediate access to the burial places below. Some Catholic basilicas areCatholic pilgrimage sites, receiving tens of millions of visitors per year.[2][3]
Churches designated as papal basilicas, in particular, possess a papalthrone and a papalhigh altar, at which no one may celebrateMass without the pope's permission.[4]
The papal or major basilicas outrank in precedence all other churches. Other rankings[which?] put the cathedral (or co-cathedral) of a bishop ahead of all other churches in the samediocese, even if they have the title of minor basilica. If the cathedral is that of asuffragan diocese, it yields precedence to the cathedral of the metropolitan see. The cathedral of aprimate is considered to rank higher than that of other metropolitan(s) in his circumscription (usually a present or historical state). Other classifications of churches include collegiate churches, which may or may not also be minor basilicas.
The distinction between major basilicas and minor basilicas appears to have arisen in the early 18th century. The earliest document that records the use of the termmajor basilica dates from 1727.[6]
To the categorymajor basilica belong only the four great churches of Rome, which among other distinctions have a specialholy door and to which a visit is always prescribed as one of the conditions for gaining theRoman Jubilee. Only the major basilicas may prefix their titles with the adjectivesacrosancta (most holy).[7]
The four major basilicas, together with the minor basilica ofSt. Lawrence Outside-the-Walls, were formerly known aspatriarchal basilicas as they were associated with the five ancientpatriarchal sees of Christendom (seePentarchy). Upon relinquishing the title ofPatriarch of the West in 2006,Pope Benedict XVI renamed these basilicas frompatriarchal basilicas topapal basilicas.
Nominally, the respective patriarchs could avail of accommodation attached to the basilicas should they have business in Rome.[8] These assignments, however, are now purely historical. In some cases, more than one patriarch holds the title for the same patriarchate. For example, each of the Catholic patriarchs of theMelkite,Maronite andSyrian rites holds the title of "Patriarch of Antioch".
All five papal basilicas belong also to the categorySeven Pilgrim Churches of Rome.
_-_2021-08-25_-_4.jpg)
The regulations governing minor basilicas was determined by the Sacred Congregation of Rites in the decree "Domus Dei" of 6 June 1968.[9]Pope John Paul II revised and refined these regulations in the light of experience and new liturgical requirements, approved and published by the Congregation of the Divine Cult and Discipline of the Sacraments in the decree "Domus Dei" of 9 November 1989.[10] The petition of the bishop of the diocese is now required, as well as the "nihil obstat" [Nothing stands in the way] of the diocese's National Conference of Bishops. A statement of the origin and history of the church in question, and its current religious status, is required, along with photographs of the edifice. A detailed questionnaire must be completed and submitted.
Theprivileges attached to the status of minor basilica, which is conferred bypapal brief, include a certain precedence before other churches, the right of theconopaeum (abaldachin resembling an umbrella; also calledumbraculum,ombrellino,papilio,sinicchio, etc.) and the bell (tintinnabulum), which are carried side by side in procession at the head of the clergy on state occasions, and thecappa magna which is worn by thecanons or secular members of thecollegiate chapter when assisting at theDivine Office.[4] In the case of major basilicas these umbraculae are made ofcloth of gold and red velvet, while those of minor basilicas are made of yellow and red silk – the colors traditionally associated with both thePapal See and the city of Rome.
Regardingminor basilicas the terms "papal minor basilica", "pontifical minor basilica" and "patriarchal minor basilica" are also in use.
There are threepapal minor basilicas, one in Rome, Basilica of St Lawrence Outside-the-Walls, and two inAssisi[11][12] associated withFrancis of Assisi situated in or near his home town. Architecturally, the Papal Basilica of St Francis of Assisi is anaisleless nave with lateral chapels.
There are fivepontifical minor basilicas in the world (the word "pontifical" referring to the title "pontiff" of a bishop, and more particularly of the Bishop of Rome):
The descriptionpatriarchal applies to two minor basilicas[12] associated with archbishops who have the title of patriarch – thePatriarchal Cathedral Basilica of St Mark in Venice and thePatriarchal Basilica of Aquileia.
_-_Exterior.jpg)
Not all patriarchal cathedrals are minor basilicas. Notably, thePatriarchal Cathedral of St. Mary Major (inLisbon, Portugal) and thePatriarchal Cathedral of Santa Catarina (inOld Goa, India) are not.
.jpg)
In recent times, the title of minor basilica has been attributed to importantpilgrimage churches and national centers of the faith. In 1999 BishopFrancesco Giogia stated that theBasilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe inMexico City (constructed in the twentieth century) was the most visited Catholic shrine in the world, followed bySan Giovanni Rotondo andBasilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida in Brazil.[3] Millions of pilgrims visit the shrines ofOur Lady of Lourdes andOur Lady of Fatima. Pilgrimage basilicas continue to attract well over 30 million pilgrims per year.[3] Ireland contains two pilgrimage basilicas:Knock Shrine andSt Patrick's Purgatory (Lough Derg).[13][14]
Every year, on 13 May and 13 October, the significant dates of the Fatima apparitions, pilgrims fill the country road that leads to theSanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima with crowds that approach one million on each day.[15] In December 2009 the Basilica ofOur Lady of Guadalupe set a new record with 6.1 million pilgrims during Friday and Saturday for the anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe.[16]
As of 31 December 2020[update], there are 1,881 Roman Catholic churches that bear the title of basilica.[17]
| Region | Basilicas |
|---|---|
| West Europe | 1,116 |
| East Europe | 244 |
| North America | 152 |
| Central America | 26 |
| South America | 240 |
| South and East Asia | 59 |
| Central and Southwest Asia | 12 |
| Oceania | 8 |
| Western and Northern Africa | 14 |
| Eastern and Central Africa | 9 |
| Southern Africa | 1 |
| Total | 1,881 |
St. Mary's Cathedral in Ernakulam, India is the Episcopal See of theSyro-Malabar Catholic Church. The cathedral was elevated to the status of basilica byPope Paul VI on 20 March 1974.[18][19]St. George Forane Church in Angamaly, also of the Syro-Malabar rite, was raised to the status of basilica on 24 June 2009 byPope Benedict XVI.[20]
On 10 May 1997Pope John Paul II visitedthe Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, Lebanon. The basilica is under theMaronite Catholic Patriarchate.[21] TheBasilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson, Ohio, US is under the jurisdiction of theEparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon. The shrine was elevated to the status of a minor basilica byPope Francis on 8 July 2014.[22]
.jpg)
He said that basilica symbols like the Papal chair,umbrella,bell,Vatican logo, among others, can be seen in the altar.
