archbasilicas
Archbasilicas are basilicas that hold a higher ceremonial status within the Catholic Church, designated by the Holy See for reasons of historical, liturgical, or canonical significance. The term is most closely associated with the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, officially named the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour and Saint John the Baptist at the Lateran. Archbasilica is a distinct honor that is not simply a subdivision of the broader categories of basilicas major or basilicas minor, and its use is relatively rare outside of Rome.
In practice, an archbasilica commemorates a church’s special role in relation to the Holy See or to
The concept of archbasilicas arises from historical developments in church governance and papal diplomacy. While the