The Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Pompéia parish in Santos, on the coast of São Paulo state, has been elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica. The announcement was made on October 1 during the parish's centenary celebration, which drew more than 1,200 people, CNN Brasil reported.
At Mass, Santos Bishop Joaquim Mol read a decree from the Vatican's Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The decree is dated September 8, 2026. It fulfilled a request submitted while Tarcísio Scaramussa was the previous bishop of Santos.
The process began in 2024 and involved the local Catholic community. The parish said the title does not place the church above other churches. It recognizes a particular mission to strengthen faith in the region, welcome pilgrims and maintain a closer connection with the pope.
Traditional insignia of a basilica include an ombrellino, a decorative umbrella with red and yellow bands, and a tintinnabulum, a small bell mounted on a portable staff with a banner bearing the church's patron saint. The basilica must also display the papal coat of arms.
Parish priest Cláudio da Conceição will take on the role of rector of the basilica.