Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul

History & Significance

Basilica · Est. Construction began 1846; dedicated 1864

The Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul is the mother church and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Construction began in 1846 under Bishop Francis Kenrick, was designed in a Roman-Corinthian style by Napoleon LeBrun (with the dome and Palladian facade by John Notman), and the cathedral was dedicated in 1864 and consecrated in 1890. Pope Paul VI raised it to the dignity of a minor basilica in 1976. It is associated with St. John Neumann, the bishop of Philadelphia (1852-1860) later canonized in 1977.

Roman-Corinthian / Italian Renaissance with Palladian elements, modeled on San Carlo al Corso in Rome

• •Mother church and cathedral seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia
• •Construction began in 1846 under Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick; dedicated in 1864 and consecrated in 1890
• •Designated a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1976
• •Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (added June 24, 1971)
• •Designed by Napoleon LeBrun; dome and Palladian facade by John Notman