A national shrine is a Catholic church or other sacred place that has met certain requirements and is given this honor by the national episcopal conference to recognize the church's special cultural, historical, and religious significance.
Process For a church to receive the status of a national shrine involves a number of steps and certifications. It must first be designated as a diocesan (or archdiocesan) shrine, an honor conferred by the local bishop or archbishop. To be designated as a shrine, the subject church must be a place "to which numerous members of the faithful make pilgrimage for a special reason of piety." It must exceed other churches in terms of worship, Christian formation, and social services. When these requirements are met, the parish petitions the (arch)bishop to canonically elevate the church.
When devotion has grown, the (arch)diocesan shrine may petition the national Conference of Catholic Bishops. Evaluation by the nation's (arch)bishops involves considerations including canon law, liturgy, and doctrine.
Declaration of an international shrine is conferred by the Holy See similar to basilicas.Code of Canon Law §1231
International shrines
Basilica of the Assumption, Aglona, LatviaAgreement Between the Holy See and Republic of Latvia, Article 12 Basilica della Santa Casa, Loreto, Italy Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua (Basilica Pontificia di Sant'Antonio di Padova), Padua, Italy Sanctuary Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary (Fátima), Fátima, Portugal Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Knock, Knock, IrelandKnock Named an International Shrine Sanctuary Shrine of Divine Mercy, Kraków, Poland International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Antipolo, Philippines International Shrine of Saint Padre Pio, Santo Tomas, Philippines Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Stary Wielisław, Poland St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic International Shrine, Malayattoor, India Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes (Sanctuaire de Notre-Dame de Lourdes), Lourdes, France of Jeoldu-San South Korea, recognized on 14 September 2018 , Seosan, South Korea; recognized on 29 November 2020 International Sanctuary of Jesus the Saviour and Mother Mary, Elele, NigeriaAgreement Between the Holy See and Republic of Nigeria, Article 12
National shrines listed by country There are 230 national shrines in the world, as well as eleven international shrines.
Africa There are four national shrines in Africa.
Democratic Republic of Congo National Shine of Blessed Marie-Cleméntine Anuarite (Sanctuaire National Bienheureuse Anuarite), Isiro
Kenya National Shrine of Our Lady of Africa, Village of Mary Mother of God, SubukiaSubikia Shrine
Nigeria National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Ugwogwo-Nike (Enugu)
Uganda Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs, Namugongo
Asia There are 46 national shrines in Asia.
China National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady Mary Help of Christians, Sheshan (Shanghai)
East Timor National Shrine of (Santuario Nacional Nossa Senhora de Aitara), Soibada
India National Shrine Cathedral Basilica of Saint Thomas, Chennai National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam Saint Thomas Mount National Shrine, Chennai
Japan National Shrine of the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan, Nagasaki
Lebanon Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon (مزار سيدة لبنان; Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Liban), Harissa
Pakistan National Marian Shrine, Mariamabad
Philippines
Luzon International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Antipolo Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Naga Minor Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Quezon City Minor Basilica and National Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, Manila Minor Basilica and National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora, Gapan Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Parish, Parañaque National Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Quezon City National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Valenzuela National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Makati National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, Silang National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Quezon City National Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Loreto, Manila National Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Dolores National Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned, Manila National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval de Manila, Quezon City National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Muntinlupa National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang, Gamu National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Parañaque National Shrine of Saint Anne, Hagonoy National Shrine of Saint Anthony of Padua, Pila National Shrine of Saint Jude, Manila National Shrine of Saint Michael and the Archangels, Manila National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio, Santo Tomas National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, Marilao National Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Makati National Shrine of Our Lady of Salambao, Obando National Shrine and Parish of St. John Paul II, Bataan National Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy, Novaliches National Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu, San Mateo, Rizal National Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto, Sampaloc, Manila National Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Quezon City
Visayas National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles (Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary), Iloilo National Shrine of , Lapu-Lapu National Shrine of Saint Joseph, Mandaue National Shrine and Cathedral Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, Maasin
South Korea at Jeoldu-san, Seoul
Sri Lanka National Shrine of the Holy Cross, Marawila Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Tewatta, Colombo Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, Madhu National Shrine of St. Anne, Kalpitiya National Shrine of St. Anne, Kattimahana, Udubaddawa St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade, Colombo
Taiwan Wanchin Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Wanluan National Shrine of Our Lady of China, Meishan, Chiayi
Vietnam Basilica of Our Lady of La Vang (Ðền thơ Đức Mẹ La Vang), La Vang
Europe There are eight international shrines (listed above) and 37 national shrines in Europe.
Albania Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel (), Shkodra
Austria Basilica of the Birth of Mary (Basilika Mariä Geburt), Mariazell
Belarus Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Budslau
Belgium Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basilique Nationale du Sacré-Cœur), Koekelberg
Bulgaria , Plovdiv
Croatia Basilica of (), Marija Bistrica National Shrine of Saint Joseph (), Karlovac of Saint Nicolas Tavelic (), Šibenik
Czechia Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert (Katedrála sv. Víta, Václava a Vojtěcha), Prague
France Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (Basilique Notre-Dame de l'Immaculée-Conception), Lourdes (Sanctuaire national Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice), Nice Our Lady of Reims Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims), Reims
Germany National Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting (Gnadenkapelle Altötting), Altötting
Hungary (Görög Katolikus Máriapócs Nemzeti Kegytemplom), Máriapócs
Ireland
National Shrine of Saint Oliver Plunkett, Drogheda
Italy National Shrine of Mary Mother and Queen, Contovello
Malta Ta' Pinu Shrine, Għarb
Poland Archcathedral Basilica of Bishop Saint Stanislaus and Martyr and Saint Wenceslaus (Bazylika Archikatedralna św. Stanisława Biskupa i męczennika i św. Wacława), Kraków Jasna Góra Shrine Basilica of the Black Madonna (Bazylika Jasnogórska Wniebowzięcia NMP), Częstochowa Basilica of the Immaculate Omni-mediatress of All Glories of Niepokalanów (Bazylika NMP Niepokalanej Wszechpośredniczki Łask w Niepokalanowie), Teresin Sanctuary of Saint Jadwiga, Trzebnica Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, Zakopane - Krzeptówki
Portugal National Shrine of Christ the King (Santuário Nacional de Cristo Rei), Almada (Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora da Conceição), Vila Viçosa
Slovakia (Bazilika Sedembolestnej Panny Márie), Šaštín
Slovenia (Bazilika Marije Pomagaj), Brezje
Spain Royal Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha, Madrid Basilica of Mary of God of Montserrat (Basílica de la Mare de Déu de Montserrat), Montserrat (Santuario Nacional de la Gran Promesa), Valladolid
United Kingdom England National Shrine & Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham, Little Walsingham National Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, London National Shrine of Saint Jude, Faversham National Shrine to St Joseph (Saint Michael's Abbey), Farnborough
Scotland Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Edinburgh National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Carfin
Wales Welsh National Shrine of Our Lady of the Taper, Cardigan St Winefride's Well, Holywell
Gibraltar National Shrine of Our Lady of Europe
North America There are 101 national shrines in North America.
Canada Source:
Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré (Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré), Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré National Shrine of Canadian Martyrs, Midland Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Cap (Basilique Notre-Dame-du-Cap), Cap-de-la-Madeleine Saint Anthony's Hermitage (Ermitage Saint-Antoine), Lac-Bouchette The Bishop Velychkovsky Martyr's Shrine, Winnipeg Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal (Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal), Montreal
Caribbean Cuba National Shrine of Jesus of Nazareth of Ransom (), Havana National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre (), El Cobre National Shrine of Saint Barbara (), Havana Our Lady of Regla National Shrine (), Havana Saint Lazarus National Shrine (), Havana
Dominican Republic Our Lady of La Altagracia Cathedral Basilica (), Higüey Our Lady of Mercies National Shrine (), La Vega Holy Christ of Miracles National Shrine (), Santo Domingo
Haiti National Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (), Port-au-Prince
Central America Costa Rica Holy Christ of Esquipulas National Shrine (), San José Holy Christ of Esquipulas Shrine (), Santa Cruz El Salvador Queen of Peace Basilica Cathedral (), San Miguel
Guatemala Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary (), Guatemala City Church of Saint Francis the Great (), Guatemala City Basilica of the Black Christ of Esquipulas (), Esquipulas
Honduras Basilica of Our Lady of Suyapa (), Tegucigalpa
Nicaragua National Shrine of Our Lady of Cuapa (), Cuapa National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (), El Viejo
Panama National Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (), Panama City
Mexico Distinguished and National Basilica of Saint Mary of Guadalupe (Insigne y Nacional Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe), Mexico City Old Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Antigua Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe), Mexico City
United States There are 72 national shrines in the United States.
Alaska National Shrine of Saint Thérèse, Juneau
California National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (), Sacramento National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi, San Francisco Mission Basilica and National Shrine of Saint John of Capestrano (), San Juan Capistrano
District of Columbia Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (), Washington, D.C. Saint John Paul II National Shrine, Washington, D.C. Ukrainian National Shrine of the Holy Family, Washington, D.C.
Florida Hermitage of Charity of El Cobre (), Miami Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Queen of the Universe, Orlando National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, St. Augustine
Illinois National Shrine of Mary Immaculate Queen of the Universe, Lombard National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville National Shrine of Saint Ann, Chicago National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Chicago National Shrine of Saint Jude, Chicago National Shrine of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Libertyville National Shrine of Saint Peregrine (Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows), Chicago National Shrine of Saint Therese, Darien National Shrine of the Poor Souls, Berwyn
Indiana