The world's largest church was built as a personal monument

Countries & Cities · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the heart of the Ivory Coast stands a massive Catholic basilica that dwarfs the famous St. Peter's in Rome. Yet, its construction was as much a statement of personal legacy as it was a feat of faith, rising from an economic crisis to become a

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro is officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest church in the world. Spanning 30,000 square metres (320,000 sq ft) and reaching a height of 158 metres (518 ft), it was designed by Lebanese architect Pierre Fakhoury. While it draws inspiration from the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City, it is not a replica; its dome is more than twice the diameter of the Roman original, measuring 90 metres (300 ft) compared to 41 metres (135 ft).

The project was deeply tied to the personal ambitions of Ivory Coast President Félix Houphouët-Boigny. In 1983, he designated his birthplace as the nation's administrative capital and commissioned the basilica as a way to memorialize himself. The scale was so immense that the media dubbed it the "basilica in the bush." The building even features a stained glass panel depicting the president himself kneeling beside Jesus during the triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The construction, which took place between 1985 and 1989, was mired in controversy due to the country's fiscal crisis. Cost estimates varied wildly, ranging from US$175 million to as high as US$600 million. To secure the consecration by Pope John Paul II in 1990, the president had to agree to build a nearby hospital. That hospital remained frozen during the First Ivorian Civil War and was not completed until 2015 at a cost of €21.3 million.

Technically, the basilica is a minor basilica, not a cathedral. The actual seat of the bishop and the principal place of worship in the Diocese of Yamoussoukro is the smaller Cathedral of Saint Augustine, located less than 3 km away. The basilica is currently administered by Polish Pallottines at an annual cost of US$1.5 million.

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