(ANS - Rome) - Tomorrow will mark the 50th anniversary of the elevation of the Temple of Don Bosco in Rome to the rank of Minor Basilica. Mass will be celebrated at 6.00 p.m. to mark the occasion. The Dominic Savio Choir will participate.  Later there will be a talk on the architecture of the Basilica and on the Latin inscriptions found there. Finally the document in which it was declared a Minor Basilica will be read, and the privileges accorded it will be recalled.

Exactly fifty years ago, on 20 November 1965, the temple dedicated to St. John Bosco in the district of Rome called "Cinecitta" was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica by the Decree "Adolescentium Patris" of his holiness Pope Paul VI. The title is granted only to very special churches. The honour is not given on account of the size of the Church nor its architectural merit or works of art. The purpose is to strengthen ties with the Pope and highlight its importance in the area where it stands.

A Minor Basilica has the privilege of displaying the papal coat of arms and, if it is assigned a cardinal deacon, it becomes a diakonia and can display also the emblem of the Cardinal protector. This year the Don Bosco Basilica is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the diakonia. There are just over 1,500 Minor basilicas in the world out of tens of thousands of churches. They are generally important shrines dedicated to Our Lady or significant saints.

The event was also mentioned on 5 July 2015 in a special cancellation of the Italian Post to mark both the 50th anniversary of the title of Minor Basilica of the Temple in Rome and the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco.

Published 19/11/2015