LEWISTON – Saints Peter and Paul Parish, whose graceful steeples have become a city landmark, has been elevated to the status of basilica, the Maine Catholic diocese has announced.

The Rev. Robert D. Lariviere, pastor of the parish, shared the news with parishioners at Saturday’s Masses and will continue spreading the word at Masses today.

The higher status was given by the Vatican in Rome. It makes Saints Peter and Paul, the largest church in Maine, the only basilica in the state and only the second in New England.

“We’ve been working on this since 1999,” Lariviere said. “I’m excited. I’m very happy about it.”

So is parishioner and Lewiston Mayor Lionel Guay. “This is wonderful. I’m elated,” Guay said. “To be named a minor basilica is not an easy task for a parish. This is great for the city of Lewiston,” he said, noting the new status “brings prestige to the entire area.”

Connie Richard, a Eucharistic minister at the church who attended Saturday’s Mass, said she is excited about the designation.

“I think it’s very nice,” she said. “This is the mother church of the Lewiston-Auburn area,” she said. “It’s such a big, beautiful church.”

She is not hopeful about the prospect of Pope John Paul II paying a visit anytime soon.

“I don’t think he can make it this far,” she said.

“If the pope came here, it would be an honor for the United States,” said Henry Sehl, who was married in the church 27 years ago.

“It’s long overdue,” said Fern Richard, 60, who was baptized in the church and has been a parishioner ever since.

Historically, the term basilica referred to a style of architecture, but today the term is used to refer to a special status given to a select number of churches. Technically, the church will be considered a minor basilica. There are only five major basilicas in the world, all in Italy.

Criteria include artistic value that inspires; capacity to accommodate crowds; and high-quality services and programs, including those that help the poor, liturgical prayer and Catholic teachings.

“The honor also bestows a special bond with the bishop of Rome, the pope,” and is like an overall stamp of approval, Lariviere said.

Maine Diocese Chancellor Monsignor Marc Caron said the Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, bishop of Portland, is delighted that Rome is honoring Saints Peter and Paul. “It’s a recognition by the Vatican that this is a unique church architecturally, historically and artistically, and that the parish has had a tremendous impact on the wider community,” Caron said.

The church becomes the 56th minor basilica in the United States. Three of the closest are in Massachusetts. Others include: Sacred Heart Basilica at the University of Notre Dame, the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and the Basilica of the San Diego Mission in California.

Saints Peter and Paul was designed by the Boston architectural firm of O’Connell and O’Connell. Construction began in 1904 and was completed 34 years later, during the Depression.

It was the contributions from the many people who left Canada for work in Lewiston-Auburn’s mills that paid for the church. “They were poor millworkers and shoe workers,” Guay said. “They built it through collections of pennies, nickels and dimes.”

The mayor can see the church from his window. “To sit here and look at it makes you realize how devoted these people were to their church to build it. Today, it would take millions and millions of dollars.”

And the kind of craftsmanship that went into the huge building is rarely seen today, Guay said. “It’s all hardwood and marble. It was an amazing accomplishment for the citizens of Lewiston, the parishioners who built it.”

Aside from giving them an extra source of pride, parishioners will notice little change as a result of the new designation, Lariviere said. This spring, the word basilica will be added to the church’s name. Parish insignia will be modified to include the crossed keys, which indicate a connection with the Vatican.

Because of that relationship, the church “now has a special responsibility to disseminate the teachings of the Holy Father,” Lariviere said. But much of what’s expected of a basilica is already happening, he said.

The honor will be celebrated during weeklong events in April or May. Bishop Malone will oversee the principal Mass marking the occasion, Caron said. “We’re working on the schedule.” There will also be lectures by guest speakers, musical concerts and special prayer services.

In recent years,parishioners have sacrificed to restore the church, Lariviere noted. Having it named a basilica “will make a lot of people very happy,” he said. “To me personally, it’s a point of pride.”

Masses Sunday are at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Masses are also at 4 and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays. Some are still celebrated in French.