Those who practice any religion know that faith can be expressed anytime and anywhere. Still, there are sacred places where believers gather to connect with the divine. Some call them temples, others synagogues or mosques—and Christians, churches.

“Church” is the general term used for buildings designed for worship, but within Catholicism, churches take on different names based on their purpose and hierarchy.

A parish refers to a geographic community of the faithful, served by a priest and forming part of a larger diocese. In the early Church, the parish encompassed all Christians in a given city.

A chapel is a smaller, often more intimate place of worship, usually located within another institution, such as a cathedral, hospital, or school.

A shrine is a sacred place that houses relics or commemorates a significant event in the history of a faith—such as the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City or Our Lady of Mercy at Santo Cerro in the Dominican Republic.

A cathedral is the principal church of a diocese and also functions as a parish. It is led by a bishop, who serves as its pastor.

A basilica, on the other hand, is a church granted a special title by the Holy Father in recognition of its historical, and spiritual significance. Basilicas can be major or minor.

The major basilicas, all located in Rome, hold a unique place in Catholic tradition, such as St. Peter's Basilica, where the Pope typically celebrates Mass. Among the seven major basilicas, four are the "primary major basilicas": St. Peter, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls.

In contrast, minor basilicas are found throughout the world. As of now, there are 1929 minor basilicas globally, with 317 located in Central and South America.

In what follows, we highlight eight notable basilicas from 5 different Latin American countries, offering a glimpse into their unique histories, roles, and continuing relevance in the spiritual life of the region.

1. Mexico
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) – Mexico City
This Basilica is located in Villa Guadalupe Hidalgo to the north of Mexico City and near the place where it is said that an indigenous convert called "Juan Diego" witnessed 4 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1531. The present church, known as the Old Basilica, was completed in 1709 on the site of an earlier 16th-century church. The Old Basilica was later replaced by a modern structure called the New Basilica due to the sinking of its foundations. It was designated a basilica by Pope Pius X in 1904. The New Basilica holds the original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

2. Colombia
Las Lajas Sanctuary (Santuario de Las Lajas) – Ipiales, Nariño
Located at 7 km from the city of Ipiales, Nariño department, in the Colombian Andes, this Sanctuary was built on the site where the Virgin Mary appeared to an indigenous woman, Maria, and her daughter, Rosa. It is here that the miracle of resurrection of Rosa happened after she felt ill in 1754. The first temple was erected in 1754. A second temple was built in the 7 following years. A third temple was built between 1859 and 1893. Finally, the fourth and present santuary's

3. Brazil
Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida (Basílica do Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida) – Aparecida, São Paulo
Located in the city of Aparecida, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, this basilica stands on the site where three fishermen cast a net and pulled back the statue of Virgin Mary. At the beginning, Felipe Pedroso, one of the fishermen, kept it in his house. Pedroso's family built a small chapel which, in time, became the first basilica on the site. The construction of the present basilica began in 1955. In 1980, while still under construction, Pope John Paul II consecrated it as a Minor Basilica during his visit to Brazil. Its structure is in a modern Romanesque style and takes the form of a Greek cross in the mid-20th century. The shrine, dedicated to Our Lady Aparecida—Brazil’s Patroness—attracts millions of pilgrims annually and is the largest cathedral and the second largest Catholic church in the world.

4. Peru
Basilica Cathedral of Lima (Basílica Catedral de Lima) – Lima
This Basilica, the country’s most important church, is situated on the Plaza Mayor, in the historic center of Lima. Its origins date to 1535 when Francisco Pizarro founded the city and elevated the original Iglesia Mayor; later, in 1541, Pope Paul III officially designated it a cathedra. Architecturally, the cathedral showcases a grand Baroque stone façade richly adorned with marble sculptures, and its twin bell towers were remodeled in the early 1900s. The styles that converge within it through the sacred artworks it houses are Renaissance, Mannerist, Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical. Adjacent is El Sagrario, a 16th-century chapel known for its colonial and ornate Baroque decoration. As both the spiritual and cultural heart of the city, the cathedral has served as a vivid testament to Lima’s colonial religious heritage.

5. Argentina
Basilica of Our Lady of Luján (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Luján) – Luján, Buenos Aires Province
Located in Luján, 68 kilometres west of downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, patron saint of Argentina. It is said that back in 1630, a Portuguese farmer requested a statue of Our Lady. Two statues were sent, but as the caravan passed through Don Rosendo’s ranch, the animals mysteriously refused to move—until the statue of the Immaculate Conception was removed. This was taken as a sign that Our Lady wished to remain there. Over time, the shrine was relocated nearby, but the statue kept returning to the original location, prompting recognition of the site’s sanctity. Elevated to Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1930 and a National and Historical Monument in 1998, the basilica now welcomes millions of pilgrims annually.

References:

Church https://www.britannica.com/topic/church-architecture
Parish: https://www.britannica.com/topic/parish-religion
Chapel: https://www.britannica.com/search?query=chapel
The Vatican: https://www.thevaticantickets.com/vatican-mass/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Basilicas in the world: https://gcatholic.org/churches/bas?utm_source=chatgpt.com
What is the difference between a basilica, a cathedral, and a shrine? https://catholicstraightanswers.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-basilica-a-cathedral-and-a-shrine/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Basilica of Guadalupe: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Basilica-of-Guadalupe
Sanctuary of Virgin of Las Lajas: http://en.santuariolavirgendelaslajas.com/history.html
Catholic Shrine Basilica: https://catholicshrinebasilica.com/basilica-of-the-national-shrine-of-our-lady-of-aparecida-sao-paulo-brazil/
Catholic Shrine Basilica: https://catholicshrinebasilica.com/basilica-of-our-lady-of-lujan-argentina/
Catedral de Lima: https://catedraldelima.org.pe/