About Basilica of Bom Jesus Goa
The Basilica of Bom Jesus stands as an enduring symbol of Goa's rich spiritual and colonial history. Located in Old Goa, the former capital of Portuguese India, this 16th-century monument is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Asia. 'Bom Jesus' literally translates to 'Good Jesus' or 'Infant Jesus', to whom the church is dedicated.
Stepping inside the basilica, visitors are greeted by marble flooring, gilded altars, and an atmosphere charged with centuries of devotion. The highlight of the monument is the ornate glass-sided silver casket resting atop a grand mausoleum, which preserves the mortal remains of Saint Francis Xavier, co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Every ten years, the sacred relics are brought down for public veneration during a major exposition attracting millions of pilgrims worldwide.
Unlike many other churches in Goa whose facades are coated in white lime plaster, the exterior of the Basilica of Bom Jesus features exposed black granite stone, lending it a distinctive rustic elegance that contrasts beautifully with its opulent, gold-leafed interior ornamentation.
History
Construction of the Basilica of Bom Jesus began in 1594 under the Jesuit Order and was completed in May 1605, when it was consecrated by Dom Fr. Aleixo de Menezes, the Archbishop of Goa. The church was raised to the status of a Minor Basilica in 1953 by Pope Pius XII, making it the first minor basilica in India.
The history of the basilica is inextricably linked with Saint Francis Xavier, who died in 1552 on Shangchuan Island, China. His body was initially taken to Malacca before being brought to Goa in 1554. Remarkably preserved, his body was moved to its current resting location inside the basilica's Chapel of St. Francis Xavier in 1698.
The exquisite mausoleum holding the casket was crafted over ten years by the Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini and gifted by Cosimo III de' Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The basilica was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 as part of the 'Churches and Convents of Goa' ensemble.