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Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix
Also known as: Yamoussoukro Basilica
Religions: Christianity | Place Type: Basilica | Region: Africa
Overview
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is a Roman Catholic basilica in Yamoussoukro, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest church in the world. Conceived by the country's founding president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, and consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1990, it remains an active place of Catholic worship and a destination for pilgrims from across West Africa and beyond.
Present
The basilica is administered by the International Foundation of Our Lady of Peace, established by Pope John Paul II, within the Catholic Diocese of Yamoussoukro, with support from the Ivorian state for upkeep and security. It holds regular Masses and private devotions, and hosts occasional major liturgical events such as ordinations and national celebrations. Its capacity of 18,000 far exceeds normal attendance; on most Sundays the congregation numbers in the hundreds. The basilica draws Catholic pilgrims from Côte d'Ivoire, across West Africa, and internationally, along with other visitors.
Religious Significance
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is a consecrated Roman Catholic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Peace (Notre-Dame de la Paix in French). The dedication honours Mary as the mother of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God, and venerates her as an advocate of peace, reconciliation, and harmony. As a basilica, it is a church granted special status by the Pope, and it serves as a site for Masses, Marian devotion, and major Catholic celebrations. Since its consecration it has become a pilgrimage destination for Catholics across the region and a visible expression of the growth of Catholicism in sub-Saharan Africa.
History & Structure
The basilica was conceived by Félix Houphouët-Boigny (1905–1993), Côte d'Ivoire's founding president, who chose his birthplace of Yamoussoukro as the site and made the city the national capital in 1983. Designed by the architect Pierre Fakhoury and modelled on St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, it was built between 1985 and 1989 by around 1,500 workers. It covers 30,000 square metres and rises to 158 metres, including the cross above its dome, and can hold 18,000 people. Estimates of its cost range from US$175 million to US$600 million; the higher figures exceeded Côte d'Ivoire's national debt at the time, and the project drew lasting criticism in a country facing widespread poverty. Pope John Paul II consecrated the basilica in 1990 and accepted it as a gift to the Catholic Church on the condition that a hospital be built nearby to serve the poor. That hospital, delayed for years by political crisis, was completed in 2014. The basilica is maintained by the Catholic Church with state support, and its upkeep remains costly because of its scale and imported materials.