Karkala: St Lawrence Church of Attur in Karkala has been accorded the status of ‘Minor Basilica’, by Pope Francis.
The document proclaiming the same has reached the Bishop of Udupi.

The Bishop of Udupi Most Rev Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo in consultation with clergy and faithful, will choose a day on which the concession of the title of basilica to a certain church is publicly announced and observed in a festive way with appropriate prayer vigils and other celebrations.

In all, there are 21 Minor Basilicas in India, of which the most renowned are Vailankanni and Poondy in Tamilnadu, Mount Mary in Mumbai and Bom Jesus in Old Goa. St Lawrence Minor Basilica is only the second Minor Basilica in Karnataka, after the renowned St Mary’s Minor Basilica, Shivajinagar, Bengaluru.

St Lawrence Church is one of the most famous churches of Southern India. Set up in 1759, this church attracts devotees from all religions. The faithful believe that the one feet tall idol of St Lawrence has answers for all their problems and miseries in life.

Minor basilica (Latin: Basilica minor, Basilicæ minores in plural) is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. According to canon law, no church building can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom. Presently, the authorising decree is granted by the Pope through the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.