Santa Maria Maggiore
| Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore | |
|---|---|
| Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major | |
Façade of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore facing the Piazza | |
Interactive map of Santa Maria Maggiore's location in Rome | |
| 41°53′51″N 12°29′55″E / 41.89750°N 12.49861°E | |
| Location | Rome |
| Country | Italy |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Tradition | Latin Church |
| Website | Santa Maria Maggiore |
| History | |
| Status | Papal major basilica |
| Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Cult(s) present | Salus Populi Romani |
| Relics held | |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Ferdinando Fuga |
| Architectural type | Basilica |
| Style | |
| Groundbreaking | 432 |
| Completed | 1743 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 92 m (302 ft) |
| Width | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Nave width | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Height | 75 m (246 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Rome |
| Clergy | |
| Archpriest | Stanisław Ryłko |
| Official name | Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, ii, iii, iv, vi |
| Designated | 1980 |
| Reference no. | 91 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
Santa Maria Maggiore (Italian pronunciation: [ˈsanta maˈriːa madˈdʒoːre]), also known as the Basilica of Saint Mary Major or the Basilica of Saint Mary the Great, is one of the four major papal basilicas and one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. The largest Marian church in Rome, it is regarded as the first Marian sanctuary in the Western world and the mother of all sanctuaries.
Santa Maria Maggiore is located in Esquilino, the 15th rione (administrative district) of Rome, on the Piazza dell'Esquilino. Pursuant to the Lateran Treaty of 1929 between the Holy See and Italy, the basilica is in Italy and not Vatican City. However, the Holy See fully owns the basilica, and Italy is legally obliged to recognise its full ownership thereof and to concede to it "the immunity granted by international law to the headquarters of the diplomatic agents of foreign states". The complex of buildings therefore has a status somewhat similar to an embassy.
The basilica enshrines the venerated image of Salus Populi Romani, depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary as the health and protector of the Roman people, which was granted a canonical coronation by Pope Gregory XVI in 1838.