Basilica of St. John the Baptist, St. John’s, Canada Verified listing

Basilica of St. John the Baptist, St. John’s, Canada

The Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist stands in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. It serves as the metropolitan cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John’s. In addition, it is the mother church and symbol of Roman Catholicism in Newfoundland. It sits within the St. John’s Ecclesiastical District, which is a National Historic District of Canada.

Construction began with the excavation in May 1839. Two years later, workers laid the cornerstone in May 1841. Eventually, the cathedral was completed and consecrated on September 9, 1855. At the time, it was the largest church building in North America. Today, it remains Canada’s second-largest church. Moreover, it is still the largest cathedral church in the country.

Although the Great Fire of 1892 destroyed most of the city, the Basilica-Cathedral survived. Therefore, it became a symbol of strength and endurance. In addition, it reminded people of the importance of faith and tradition.

In 1955, the cathedral celebrated its 100th anniversary. During that occasion, Pope Pius XII gave it the title of minor Basilica. As a result, its spiritual and historical value received global recognition.

Over the years, church leadership changed. On October 17, 2007, Bishop Martin Currie of Grand Falls became archbishop of St. John’s. He took office on November 30, 2007. However, he retired on January 29, 2019. Meanwhile, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Peter Hundt of Corner Brook and Labrador as the new archbishop on December 12, 2018. He took formal possession of the archdiocese on January 29, 2019.

Even today, the Basilica-Cathedral continues to inspire. Therefore, it stands not just as a building, but as a lasting testament to faith, history, and community.

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