National shrine (catholic)
Mariazell Basilica , Austrian national shrine
National shrine ( lat. Sanctuarium nationale , engl. National shrine ) is a canonically defined name in the Roman Catholic Church for certain places or buildings, mostly pilgrimage churches , that are of particular importance for the respective nation or country. The title is conferred by the bishops' conference of the country concerned.
Currently (2018) 202 national sanctuaries have been declared worldwide. The only national shrine in the German-speaking area is the Basilica of Mariazell in Austria .