Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro

There is a similarly named Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu.

Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro
Basic information
Location	Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire
Geographic coordinates	6°48′40″N 5°17′47″W / 6.81111°N 5.29639°W / 6.81111; -5.29639Coordinates: 6°48′40″N 5°17′47″W / 6.81111°N 5.29639°W / 6.81111; -5.29639
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic
Year consecrated	1990
Ecclesiastical status	Minor basilica
Website	Official Website
Architectural description
Architect(s)	Pierre Fakhoury
Architectural type	Church
Direction of facade	NE
Year completed	1990
Construction cost	US$300m
Specifications
Capacity	18,000
Length	195 metres (640 ft)
Width	150 metres (490 ft)
Width (nave)	55 metres (180 ft)
Height (max)	158 metres (520 ft)
Materials	marble

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro (French: Basilique de Notre Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro) is a Roman Catholic minor basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The basilica was constructed between 1985 and 1989 at a cost of $300 million. The design of the dome and encircled plaza are clearly inspired by^[1] those of the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican City, although it is not an outright replica.^[2] The cornerstone was laid on August 10, 1985, and it was consecrated on September 10, 1990, by Pope John Paul II^[3].

Contrary to popular belief, this particular basilica is not a cathedral. The nearby Cathedral of Saint Augustine is the principal place of worship and seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Yamoussoukro.

Guinness World Records lists it as the largest church in the world, having surpassed the previous recordholder, St. Peter's Basilica, upon completion. It has an area of 30,000sq metres (322,917 sq ft) and is 158m (518ft) high.^[4] However, it also includes a rectory and a villa (counted in the overall area), which are not strictly part of the church, and it can accommodate 18,000 worshippers, compared to 60,000 for St. Peter's^[5].

The Basilica is administrated by Polish Pallottines.

Architecture

While designing it after the Vatican Basilica, Lebanese architect Pierre Fakhoury constructed the dome to be slightly lower than the Basilica of Saint Peter, but ornamented with a larger cross on top. The finished height is 158 meters (518 feet). The basilica is constructed with marble imported from Italy and is furnished with 7,000 square meters of contemporary stained glass from France. Columns are plentiful throughout the basilica but are not uniform in style; the smaller columns are there for structural reasons, while the bigger ones are decoration and contain elevators, rainwater evacuation from the roof etc. There is enough space to seat 7,000 people in the nave, with standing room for an additional 11,000 people. Apart from the basilica are two identical buildings each serving as rectory and private papal villa, respectively. The villa is reserved for papal visits, of which only one has occurred: when the basilica was consecrated.

The basilica was met with some controversy globally when construction began. The lavishly built basilica sits in the middle of the African bush in an impoverished city where only a minority of homes have running water and adequate sanitation. The cost of the basilica doubled the national debt of Côte d'Ivoire^{[citation needed]}, but many of the country's Roman Catholics are proud of the church.

Artistically, the basilica was also criticized by many art historians and critics, for being a modern pastiche of a western Renaissance masterpiece, and for not having any relation with modern styles of architecture or African culture.

Construction

The Basilica was built by Dumez, the French construction company^[6].

Memorial

Côte d'Ivoire President Félix Houphouët-Boigny chose his birthplace of Yamoussoukro to be the future site of the new capital city of his country in 1983. As part of the plan of the city, the president wanted to memorialize himself with the construction of what he called the greatest church in the world. As construction was nearly completed, the president commissioned a stained glass window of his image to be placed beside a gallery of stained glass of Jesus and the apostles. This image of Félix Houphouët-Boigny depicts him as one of the three Biblical Magi, kneeling as he offers a gift to Jesus.

Gallery

See also

• List of largest churches in the world
• List of tallest church towers
• List of churches

Notes

Further reading

• Pope John Paul II (1990-09-10) (in French). Dédicace de La Basilique de «Notre-Dame de La Paix». Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/1990/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19900910_yamoussoukro_fr.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-02. 
• Elleh, Nnamdi (2002). Architecture and Power in Africa. New York: Praeger. ISBN 0275976793. http://books.google.com/books?id=O0hjGbGMOZMC&printsec=frontcover#PPA131,M1. 
• Fakhoury, Pierre; Bertrand, Yann Arthus ; Quino, Fernand (Liège). Yann Arthus. ed (in French). La basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix, Yamoussoukro. Liège. ISBN 2870094396. 
• Fakhoury, Pierre; Bentot; Eric (1990). "Notre-Dame de la paix : l'architecture universelle" (in French). Balafon (Abidjan: Air Afrique) 94: 18-25. ISSN 0378-469X. OCLC 70223073. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro

• Basilica of Our Lady of Peace photos 2008 - an album of the Basilique images. Outside and inside views.
• Ellis, David (2007-01-24). "The President and the Basilica". The Epoch Times. http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-1-24/50862.html. 
• Abdijan.net (2002). "La Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix de Yamoussoukro" (in French). http://www.abidjan.net/cotedivoire/basilique/basilique1.htm. Retrieved on 2009-01-06.