Pope declares Church of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj a basilica

Church of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj (Photo credit: Visit Sinj)

ZAGREB, 13 Oct (Hina) – The Church of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj has been declared a basilica by decree of Pope Francis.

The decree was read by the Apostolic Nuncio to Croatia, Giorgio Lingua, in this southern town on Saturday.

“With this elevation to the honour of a basilica, the Holy Father wanted to connect the church in Sinj more specifically with the heir of Peter,” Lingua said.

Archbishop Zdenko Križić of Split and Makarska said: “The Blessed Virgin Mary, called the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, is at the centre of today’s celebration. She is the heart of this parish and without her this church would never be a shrine nor would it be raised to the honour of a minor basilica.”

(Photo credit: Visit Sinj)

He said that the Miraculous Lady of Sinj attracted pilgrims from throughout Croatia who at this shrine “felt the grace of a mother that heals illnesses and comforts the grieving.”

The Mass was attended by Veterans’ Minister Tomo Medved, Ivan Bugarin as the representative of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament and Jadranka Žarković as the representative of the President of the Republic.

The Church was built between 1699 and 1712 and has retained its original appearance to this day.

The church houses the painting of Our Lady of Sinj, created in the 15th or 16th century, which was brought by the people fleeing the Turkish invasion from Rama.

(Photo credit: Visit Sinj)

The people of Sinj crowned the painting in gratitude for their victory over the Ottomans in 1715 and adorned it with gold votive offerings. The Franciscan Church and Monastery of Our Lady of Sinj are protected cultural heritage sites.