After the Roman Empire became officially Christian, the term 'Basilica' came by extension to specifically refer to a large and important church that has been given special ceremonial rites by the Pope. Thus the word retains two senses today, one architectural and the other ecclesiastical.

Filmed on location at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, in the town of Aparecida, state of São Paulo, Brazil.