What is the difference between major and Minor Basilicas?

There are four major basilicas in Rome: the Lateran Basilica of Saint John, the Vatican Basilica of Saint Peter, Saint Mary Major, and Saint Paul-Outside-the-Walls. Minor basilicas are those churches throughout Christendom that have been given a special designation by the Holy Father.



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The word basilica is derived from a Greek term meaning “royal house.” In the Catholic world, a basilica is a church building that has been accorded special privileges by the pope. There are two kinds of basilicas. The world's four major, or papal, basilicas are St. John Lateran, St.

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Pope John Paul II raised Notre-Dame Church to the rank of minor basilica on April 21, 1982.

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Basilica is the highest permanent designation for a church building, and once a church is named a basilica, it cannot lose its basilica status. RELATED: What Are Some Great Catholic Sites to Visit on Summer Vacation? A basilica may or may not also be the cathedral of the diocese.

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Basilicas are where the pope meets the people when he visits the diocese where the basilica is located. The pope can visit other places, but the basilica is special in that it has a special chair with an umbraculum, an umbrella-like piece of regalia on the altar that symbolizes papal authority.

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The Four Major Papal Basilicas of Rome
  • Archbasilica of St. John Lateran (Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) ...
  • St Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) Piazza San Pietro. ...
  • St Paul Outside the Walls (San Paolo Fuori le Mure) Piazzale San Paolo 1. ...
  • Papal Basilica of St Mary Major (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore)


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Catholic National Shrine & Basilica of Our Lady, Walsingham.

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As for basilicas, there are two types: basilicas major and basilicas minor. The basilicas major are the four personal churches of the pope and are in and around Rome: the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St. Peter's Basilica, the Basilica of St.

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The title gives the church certain privileges, principally the right to reserve its high altar for the pope, a cardinal, or a patriarch, and special penitential privileges that remove the basilica from local geographical jurisdiction and give it international status.

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Other classifications of churches include collegiate churches, which may or may not also be minor basilicas. So basilicas as Christian buildings are mainly a Catholic phenomenon.

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Visitors can get into the Basilica for free, but the long line is often as impressive as the building itself. The Basilica is open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. April to September and from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. October to March.

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A visit to St Peter's Basilica is free, but you should expect long queues of two hours. Recommended: The most comfortable way to visit the basilica is with a guided tour.

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