What is the title bestowed on a Catholic church because of its age or importance?

Answer 1

It's just Catholic, not Roman Catholic. Roman is an epithet first commonly used in England after the protestant revolt to describe the Catholic Church. It is never used by the official Catholic Church.

AnswerA Church thus honored is called a Basilica.

The term basilica (there are two degrees, minorand major), deriving from the Greek word for a castle, is granted as an honorary title on certain churches which have shown prominence within the Church, particularly as pilgrimage sites. A basilica bears certain markings, such as a pavillion (a fancy umbrella used for shade) and a bell, both of which would be used in procession, were the pope to enter the basilica.

Age does not automatically grant special status to a Roman Catholic church. You probably refer however to a basilicawhich is a church usually of some importance that is granted special ceremonial rites or status by the pope. A basilica is not to be confused with a cathedral, which is the primary church of a diocese, the bishop's church, and might therefore be considered the most important church in the area.

It sounds as if you are asking about a basilica. A basilica is a type of Church, but it is also a title given to certain Churches because of their age or importance. Some are known as major basilicas, most as minor. A major basilica is an outstanding church in the Catholic world, outside of Rome, the best known is St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi, Italy. Minor basilicas fulfill the "churches remarkable for antiquity, historical association, or importance as center of worship" but it does not qualify as a major basilica. The Church at my Archabbey in Pennsylvania - St. Vincent, is a basilica.
A basilica