Basilica of Our Lady of Peace: The World’s Biggest Church On Earth, Size, Location & Pictures
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is the World’s Biggest Church On Earth, It is a Roman Catholic Church. You may be wondering if it is located in Italy (Rome) Spain or in the US. Well, that is not the case. Our Lady of Peace is located in an African Country and West Africa for that matter.
Follow through as we share with you the amazing history, facts, and images of this magnificent edifice
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro is a Catholic Church located in the Ivory Coast. It is one of the largest Catholic churches in the world and is remarkable for its impressive size and architecture.
The magnificent edifice is in the Guinness World Records lists as the largest church in the world, having surpassed the previous record holder, Saint Peter’s Basilica, upon completion.
History of The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
The history of the basilica dates back to Ivorian President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who led Ivory Coast for over three decades from 1960 until his death in 1993.
Houphouët-Boigny was a devout Catholic and had a great devotion to the Virgin Mary.
In the 1980s, Houphouët-Boigny decided to build a large church in honor of the Virgin Mary in Yamoussoukro, his hometown and the capital of Ivory Coast.
He hired Lebanese architect Pierre Fakhoury to design the basilica, which was built on an area of 30,000 square meters.
Construction of the basilica began in 1985 and was completed in 1989.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is a replica of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, although its dimensions are even larger. It can accommodate up to 18,000 people, making it one of the largest churches in the world.
The basilica is built of Carrara white marble and is decorated with numerous works of art, including frescoes and stained-glass windows. It is also surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains, as well as an artificial lake.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace has become a symbol of the Ivory Coast and an important tourist attraction in the region.
In 1990, the basilica was consecrated by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Ivory Coast. Since then, it has hosted many religious events and has attracted millions of visitors from around the world.
Overall, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro is an impressive testament to President Houphouët-Boigny’s devotion and piety to the Virgin Mary, and to the remarkable architectural engineering that made its construction possible.
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It continues to attract visitors from all walks of life, fascinated by its beauty and history
