Which cathedral in Yamoussoukro is recognized as the world’s largest Christian church by surface area?

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro is recognized as the world’s largest Christian church by surface area.

The basilica was commissioned by Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the first president of Côte d’Ivoire, and built between 1985 and 1989. Its design was strongly inspired by St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, especially its monumental dome and colonnaded approach.

The building’s very large footprint and dome make it a striking landmark in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire’s political capital. It was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1990, and the Vatican accepted ownership under an agreement that included conditions concerning the surrounding complex and local church administration.

The basilica is sometimes described as a cathedral in casual writing, but it is formally a basilica rather than the diocesan cathedral. The Cathedral of Saint Augustine serves as Yamoussoukro’s cathedral.