Basilica major

title given to the four highest-ranking Roman Catholic churches

Basilica major is a title for the highest-ranking Roman Catholic churches. The other churches which have basilica in their name are basilica minores (one of them is a basilica minor). The first document mentioning the name basilica major is from 1727. There are the following Basilicae maojres in Rome:

Except for St.Peter's basilica, which is in Vatican City, all are extraterritorial possessions of the Holy See.

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