Major basilica
Encyclopedia
Major basilica is the title given to the four highest-ranking Catholic churches: St. Peter's Basilica
, St. John Lateran, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore). All of them are located in Rome
, Italy
. St. John Lateran, the seat of the papal throne, is the oldest and the first in the established order of the papal basilicas before Saint Peter was built.
All other churches that have the title of a basilica are minor basilica
s .
. With the promulgation of the bull
"Antiquorum fida relatio", he instituted the Holy Year and set the conditions for indulgences. Pope Boniface VIII renewed certain "great remissions and indulgence
s for sins" which are to be obtained "by visiting the city of Rome and the venerable basilica
of the Prince of the Apostles
". He offered "not only full and copious, but the most full, pardon of all their sins", to those who fulfill certain conditions. First, as truly penitent they had to confess their sins, and second, they had to visit (make pilgrimage
s to) the basilicas of St. Peter
and St. Paul
, the respective burial sites of the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul.
In the second jubilee in 1350, Pope Clement VI
added a third major basilica: St. John Lateran, Cathedral of Rome. He encouraged daily visits to St. John Lateran, besides those to the basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul outside the Walls. Finally, at the next Jubilee in 1390, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the oldest church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, was added to the list. The visit to these four churches has remained as one of the conditions for gaining the Roman Jubilee indulgence.
and for being prescribed as destinations for visits as one of the conditions for gaining the Roman Jubilee. Only the Pope and his delegatees may celebrate mass at the high altar. Until recently, the four churches were open 24 hours a day; their staff included a college of priests to be continually available to hear confessions.
. The major basilicas are patrolled internally by police agents of Vatican City State. These properties, located across Rome, were found essential institutions necessary to the character and mission of the Holy See.
al sees of Christendom (see Pentarchy
): St. John Lateran was associated with Rome, St. Peter's with Constantinople
(present-day Istanbul), St. Paul's with Alexandria
(in Egypt), St. Mary Major with Antioch
(the Levant) and St. Lawrence with Jerusalem
.
Upon relinquishing in 2006 the title of Patriarch of the West, Pope Benedict XVI
renamed these basilicas from "Patriarchal Basilicas" to "Papal Basilicas". Until Pope Benedict XVI
, the title "patriarchal" (now "papal") was officially given to two churches associated with Saint Francis of Assisi
situated in or near his home town:
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
, St. John Lateran, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore). All of them are located in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. St. John Lateran, the seat of the papal throne, is the oldest and the first in the established order of the papal basilicas before Saint Peter was built.
All other churches that have the title of a basilica are minor basilica
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
s .
History
The title of major basilica was introduced in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIIIPope Boniface VIII
Pope Boniface VIII , born Benedetto Gaetani, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1294 to 1303. Today, Boniface VIII is probably best remembered for his feuds with Dante, who placed him in the Eighth circle of Hell in his Divina Commedia, among the Simonists.- Biography :Gaetani was born in 1235 in...
. With the promulgation of the bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
"Antiquorum fida relatio", he instituted the Holy Year and set the conditions for indulgences. Pope Boniface VIII renewed certain "great remissions and indulgence
Indulgence
In Catholic theology, an indulgence is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven. The indulgence is granted by the Catholic Church after the sinner has confessed and received absolution...
s for sins" which are to be obtained "by visiting the city of Rome and the venerable basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
of the Prince of the Apostles
Primacy of Simon Peter
Most Christians hold that Simon Peter was the most prominent of the Apostles, called the Prince of the Apostles and favored by Jesus of Nazareth. As such, it is argued that Peter held the first place of honor and authority...
". He offered "not only full and copious, but the most full, pardon of all their sins", to those who fulfill certain conditions. First, as truly penitent they had to confess their sins, and second, they had to visit (make pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
s to) the basilicas of St. Peter
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
and St. Paul
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
The Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls , commonly known as St Paul's Outside the Walls, is one of four churches that are the great ancient major basilicas or papal basilicas of Rome: the basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Peter's and Saint Paul Outside the Walls...
, the respective burial sites of the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul.
In the second jubilee in 1350, Pope Clement VI
Pope Clement VI
Pope Clement VI , bornPierre Roger, the fourth of the Avignon Popes, was pope from May 1342 until his death in December of 1352...
added a third major basilica: St. John Lateran, Cathedral of Rome. He encouraged daily visits to St. John Lateran, besides those to the basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul outside the Walls. Finally, at the next Jubilee in 1390, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the oldest church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, was added to the list. The visit to these four churches has remained as one of the conditions for gaining the Roman Jubilee indulgence.
List of major basilicas
To this class belong the four great ancient churches of Rome:- Basilica of St. John LateranBasilica of St. John LateranThe Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran , commonly known as St. John Lateran's Archbasilica and St. John Lateran's Basilica, is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope...
, also called the Lateran Basilica, is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, the PopePopeThe Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. It is the only one called an "archbasilica". Its full official name is "Papal Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour and of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist at the Lateran, Cathedral of Rome". - Basilica of St. Peter's, also called the Vatican Basilica, is a major pilgrimage site, built over the burial place of Saint PeterSaint PeterSaint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
. Perhaps the largest church in the world, it is used for most of the chief religious ceremonies in which the Pope participates. Its official name is the "Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican". - Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the WallsBasilica of Saint Paul Outside the WallsThe Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls , commonly known as St Paul's Outside the Walls, is one of four churches that are the great ancient major basilicas or papal basilicas of Rome: the basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Peter's and Saint Paul Outside the Walls...
, also known as the Ostian Basilica because it is situated on the road that led to OstiaOstia AnticaOstia Antica is a large archeological site, close to the modern suburb of Ostia , that was the location of the harbour city of ancient Rome, which is approximately 30 km to the northeast. "Ostia" in Latin means "mouth". At the mouth of the River Tiber, Ostia was Rome's seaport, but, due to...
, is built over the burial place of Paul the Apostle. Its official name is the "Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls". - Basilica of St. Mary Major, also called the Liberian Basilica because the original building (not the present one) was attributed to Pope LiberiusPope LiberiusPope Liberius, pope from May 17, 352, to September 24, 366, was consecrated according to the Catalogus Liberianus on May 22, as the successor of Pope Julius I. He was regarded as a saint in the early Church, but his name was later removed from the Roman Martyrology, however, he is once again...
, is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin MaryMary (mother of Jesus)Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
, hence its name of Saint Mary Major, i.e. the Greater. Its official name is the "Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major".
Privileges and attributes
These four major basilicas are distinguished by their having a holy doorHoly door
Each of the four papal basilicas in Rome has a Holy door . The doors are normally sealed shut from the inside so that they cannot be opened...
and for being prescribed as destinations for visits as one of the conditions for gaining the Roman Jubilee. Only the Pope and his delegatees may celebrate mass at the high altar. Until recently, the four churches were open 24 hours a day; their staff included a college of priests to be continually available to hear confessions.
Lateran treaty
According to the 1927 Lateran Treaty, the three major basilicas located in Italian territory enjoy extraterritorial status similar to that of foreign embassiesDiplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
. The major basilicas are patrolled internally by police agents of Vatican City State. These properties, located across Rome, were found essential institutions necessary to the character and mission of the Holy See.
Decision of Pope Benedict XVI
The four papal or major basilicas were formerly known as "patriarchal basilicas". Together with the minor basilica of St. Lawrence outside the Walls, they were associated with the five ancient patriarchPatriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
al sees of Christendom (see Pentarchy
Pentarchy
Pentarchy is a term in the history of Christianity for the idea of universal rule over all Christendom by the heads of five major episcopal sees, or patriarchates, of the Roman Empire: Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem...
): St. John Lateran was associated with Rome, St. Peter's with Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
(present-day Istanbul), St. Paul's with Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
(in Egypt), St. Mary Major with Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
(the Levant) and St. Lawrence with Jerusalem
Jerusalem in Christianity
For Christians, Jerusalem's place in the ministry of Jesus and the Apostolic Age gives it great importance, in addition to its place in the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible.-Jerusalem in the New Testament and early Christianity:...
.
Upon relinquishing in 2006 the title of Patriarch of the West, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
renamed these basilicas from "Patriarchal Basilicas" to "Papal Basilicas". Until Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
, the title "patriarchal" (now "papal") was officially given to two churches associated with Saint Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
situated in or near his home town:
- Papal Basilica of St. Francis of AssisiBasilica of San Francesco d'AssisiThe Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor—commonly known as the Franciscan Order—in Assisi, Italy, the city where St. Francis was born and died. The basilica is one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy...
- Papal Basilica of St. Mary of the AngelsBasilica of Santa Maria degli AngeliThe Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli is a church situated in the plain at the foot of the hill of Assisi, Italy, in the frazione of Santa Maria degli Angeli....
in Portiuncola
External links
- List of All Major, Patriarchal and Minor Basilicas & statistics by Giga-Catholic Information.