Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, Canadian cathedral
The Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, built in Gothic style and rising at a busy intersection where King Street meets Highway 403. Its interior features a high vaulted ceiling with gold decoration, 82 stained glass windows, a large pipe organ with nearly 5,000 pipes, and seating for over 1,000 people.
Construction began in the 1930s under Bishop John T. McNally and was blessed in 1933, making it the first cathedral in the world to bear the name Christ the King. In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI elevated it to the status of minor basilica, and a major arson fire in 1981 led to extensive restoration work.
The name honors the Feast of Christ the King, established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and central to the cathedral's identity. Visitors notice this theme expressed throughout the interior via symbols, sculptures, and artwork that tell stories of Christ's kingship and sacrifice.
Wide stone stairs on the south side lead visitors from the parking area up to the entrance, where they enter a large bright space. Daily Mass and Saturday and Sunday services are scheduled regularly, so visitors can come at different times to explore or join in prayer.
It was the first cathedral in the world to bear the name Christ the King when blessed in 1933, directly inspired by a papal liturgical reform introduced the previous year. Beneath the main altar rest stones from early Christian cemeteries in Rome, creating a physical link to ancient church history.
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