The word basilica is derived from a Greek term meaning “royal house.”

It was first used to describe a Roman public building where courts and other official events were held. The structure was usually distinguished by columns, a long center aisle, and an apse within the building.

The name was eventually applied to Christian churches which adopted the same basic design.

Within the Catholic Church, “basilica” is a title of honor bestowed on a church of historical and spiritual importance that has been accorded special privileges by the Pope. According to the 1989 Vatican document Domus ecclesiae, a basilica must “stand out as a center of active and pastoral liturgy.”

There are two kinds of basilicas: major and minor.

First among the major basilicas is the Lateran Basilica of Saint John, which is the Pontifical Cathedral of the Pope as the Bishop of Rome.

Minor, or lesser, basilicas are significant churches in the world that are traditionally named because of their antiquity, dignity, historical value, architectural and artistic worth, and significance as centers of worship.

The bestowal of the title initiates a very particular bond between the basilica and the Holy Father and sets it apart in rank from other churches.