Friday, October 17, 2025

Basilicas in Northeastern Brazil


I blogged about the following basilica on September 8, 2020.

  • Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba

I blogged about the following basilica on September 8, 2021.

  • Primatial Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Savior, Salvador, Bahia


Basilica Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians, Jaboatao dos Guararapes, Pernambuco

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1916.

The church was built in 1915 at the request of St. John Bosco.  It utilizes a combination of romantic and Byzantine styles.



Pictures are from TripAdvisor and Wikipedia.


Basilica of Our Lady of Carmel, Recife, Pernambuco

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.

The Baroque church and convent were built between 1665 and 1767.





All pictures are from Wikipedia.


Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (of the wounds), Caninde, Ceara

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1925.

This Franciscan church was built in the 19th Century.




The first picture is from a local source and the other two are from Wikipedia.


Basilica of the Lord of the Good End, Salvador, Bahia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1926.

Devotion to Our Lord of the Good End was brought to Brazil by the Portuguese during colonial times.  A brotherhood was eventually established, and this church was built between 1740 and 1754.  A religious celebration is held here every January to honor Our Lord.




All pictures are from Wikipedia.


Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Salvador, Bahia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1946.

The church was constructed between 1739 and 1849 using Baroque and Neoclassical design styles.  It was fabricated in Portugal and assembled in Salvador.  The church once was on the shore of the Bay of All Saints, but landfills have pushed the ocean back.  There are 8 side chapels and 16 bells within the church.




All pictures are from Wikipedia.


Basilica of Our Lady of the Rock, Recife, Pernambuco

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1949.

This Renaissance Revival church was built by the Capuchins between 1870 and 1882.




The first picture is from a local source and the other two are from Wikipedia.


Basilica Archabbey of St. Sebastian, Salvador, Bahia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1982.

The Neoclassical church serves as the abbey church of the Monastery of St. Benedict.  The church and monastery were founded in 1582.  The monastery’s library contains 200,000 books.





The first two pictures are from local sources and the last two are from Wikipedia.


Basilica of the Monastery of St. Benedict, Olinda, Pernambuco

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

The basilica is the abbey church of the Monastery of St. Benedict.  The Baroque building was constructed between 1660 and 1761.





The first two pictures are from local sources and the last two are from Wikipedia.


Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows, Juazeiro do Norte, Ceara

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.

A church dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows was built here in 1827 but soon needed to be replaced with a larger church.  Construction of the current church began in 1875, and it was mostly completed by 1884.  Work continued until 1905.



Pictures are from a local source and Wikipedia.


Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Recife, Pernambuco

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

The eclectic-style church was built in 1916 on the grounds of the Salesian College.  It can seat almost 800 people.




The first two pictures are from the Diocesan website and the last is from a local source.


Basilica of Our Lady of Guidance, Acari, Rio Grande do Norte

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2021.

The church was built in 1863.




The first two pictures are from local sources and the last is from the Vatican News.


Basilica of St. Sebastian, Carutapera, Maranhao

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2021.

The church was built in the 1940s in what was then a remote part of Brazil.  The builders had to overcome many construction and logistical difficulties due to the isolated nature of the location. 




The top two pictures are from the Vatican News and the last is from Wikipedia.


Basilica of Our Lady of Purification, Santo Amaro, Bahia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2024.

This lime and stone masonry church was constructed throughout the 18th Centuries using Baroque and Neoclassical styles.  It replaced a simple church built by the Franciscans in the late 1600s.  The current church covers almost 20,000 square feet over two stories.  The ceiling has an oil on wood painting of the Holy Family.  The painting is 83 feet long and 39 feet wide.




The first picture is from a local source and the other two are from Wikipedia.


Monday, September 29, 2025

Basilicas in Italy—Rome—6

Basilica of St. Camillus de Lellis, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1965.

This church was built between 1906 and 1910 and is the headquarters of the Priest Ministers of the Sick, an order founded by St. Camillus.  It has been the church of a cardinal since 1965.




Pictures are from a local source, TripAdvisor, and Wikipedia.


Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Christ the King, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1965.

The church was built between 1920 and 1934 using an Italian Rationalism style.  It has been the church of a cardinal since 1967.


From Wikipedia.


Basilica of St. John Bosco, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1965.

This modern church was built between 1952 and 1959.  It has been the titular church of a cardinal since 1965 and is administered by the Salesian Fathers.



Pictures are from a local source and Wikipedia.


Basilica of Saint Andrew della Valle, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1965.

This Renaissance church was built between 1590 and 1650.  Popes Pius II and Pius III are buried here and it is the seat of the general curia of the Theatines.  It has been the church of a cardinal since 1960.  The first act of Puccini’s opera Tosca is set in this church.




All pictures are from Wikipedia.


Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1967.

The Neo-classical church was built between 1939 and 1955 and is administered by the Franciscan Conventuals.  The brown brick building has been the church of a cardinal since 1965.


From Wikipedia.


Basilica of St. Mary Help of Christians, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1969.

This church was constructed between 1931 and 1936 and is administered by the Salesians of Don Bosco.  It has been the church of a cardinal since 1967.




The first two pictures are from TripAdvisor and the last is from Wikipedia.


Basilica of St. Joseph at Trionfale, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1970.

Built between 1909 and 1912, this church has a neoclassical exterior and a Baroque interior.  It is administered by the Servants of Charity and has been the church of a cardinal since 1967.




All pictures are from Wikipedia.


Basilica of St. Apollinarus, Rome

Church of a cardinal and a Station church

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984.

This church was originally built in the 8th Century but was rebuilt in the 18th Century using neoclassical and Baroque styles.  It is dedicated to the first bishop of Ravenna.  Since 1990, the church has been administered by Opus Dei and the church is part of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.  It has been the church of a cardinal since 1935.




Pictures are from Wikipedia.


Basilica of St. Mary Queen of the Apostles, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984.

The Baroque church was constructed between 1945 and 1954.  It is administered by the Society of St. Paul and has been the church of a cardinal since 1965.



Pictures are from local sources


Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Philip, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1991.

Built between 1955 and 1958, this church is administered by the Legion of Christ.  It is the National church of Mexico and Latin America and has been the titular church of a cardinal since 1991.



Pictures are from local sources.


Basilica of the Holy Wisdom, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

The church was built in the late 1960s and is the national church for the Ukraine.  It served for a time as the mother church of the Ukrainian Rite while St. George Cathedral in Lviv was controlled by the Russian Orthodox Church.  It has been a church of a cardinal since 1985.



Pictures are from local sources.


Basilica of St. Augustine in Campo Marzio, Rome

Church of a cardinal and a Station church

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

There has been a church at this site since 700 but the current church dates to the 15th Century.  It was built by the Augustinian Friars and serves as their motherhouse.  The façade uses travertine taken from the ruins of the Colosseum.  It has a painting by Caravaggio and frescoes by Raphael.  St. Augustine’ mother, St. Monica, is buried here.  It has been the titular church of a cardinal since 1587.






All pictures are from Wikipedia.