Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
| Minor Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception | |
|---|---|
| National and Patronal Church of the United States of America | |
View from south in 2010 | |
Location of the Minor Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. | |
| 38°56′0″N 77°0′02″W / 38.93333°N 77.00056°W | |
| Location | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Address | 400 Michigan Avenue NE |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Tradition | Roman Rite, various Eastern Catholic liturgies |
| Website | nationalshrine |
| History | |
| Status | |
| Dedication | Immaculate Conception |
| Dedicated | November 20, 1959 |
| Consecrated | September 23, 1920 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Maginnis & Walsh |
| Architectural type | Basilica |
| Style | Byzantine Revival and Romanesque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | May 16, 1920 |
| Completed | December 8, 2017 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 3,500 |
| Length | 459 feet (140 m) |
| Width | 240 feet (73 m) |
| Nave width | 157 feet (48 m) |
| Height | 329 feet (100 m) |
| Dome height (outer) | 237 feet (72 m) |
| Dome height (inner) | 159 feet (48 m) |
| Dome diameter (outer) | 108 feet (33 m) |
| Dome diameter (inner) | 89 feet (27 m) |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Washington |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Robert W. McElroy |
| Rector | Walter R. Rossi |
| Priests |
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| Laity | |
| Director of music |
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| Organists |
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The Minor Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic minor basilica and national shrine in Washington D.C. It is the largest Catholic church building in North America and is also the tallest habitable building in Washington, D.C. Its construction of Byzantine and Romanesque Revival architecture began on September 23, 1920.
The basilica is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception, designated as the principal Patroness accorded by Pope Pius IX on February 7, 1847. Pope Pius XI donated a mosaic rendition of the image in 1923. It serves as the patronal church of the Catholic Church in the United States.
Pope John Paul II raised the National Shrine to the status of Minor Basilica via his Pontifical decree Clarum Constat Templum on October 12, 1990. At the shrine, Pope Benedict XVI bestowed a Golden Rose on April 26, 2008, and Pope Francis canonized Junípero Serra on September 23, 2015.