Basilica of St. Pius X

Basilica of Saint Pius X Basilique Saint Pie X (in French)
View along the nave towards the central sanctuary.
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Minor basilica
Year consecrated	1958
Location
Location	Lourdes
Geographic coordinates	43°05′50″N 00°03′13″W / 43.09722°N 0.05361°W / 43.09722; -0.05361
Architecture
Architect(s)	Pierre Vago, Eugene Freyssinet
Type	Church
Completed	1957
Construction cost	$5.6 million
Specifications
Capacity	25000
Length	191 metres (627 ft)
Width	61 metres (200 ft)
Website
Official website

The Basilica of Saint Pius X, informally known as the Underground Basilica, is a large Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, located in the town of Lourdes, France. It is part of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Lourdes is a major Catholic pilgrimage site and the Catholic Church endorses the belief that the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette Soubirous there.

The Basilica of St. Pius X is the largest and most controversial of the Domain's churches. It was completed in 1958 in anticipation of the enormous crowds expected in Lourdes for the centenary of the Apparitions. The controversy of this church consists of the fact that it is a modern, concrete building, and it is almost entirely underground (part of the building lies beneath the Boulevard Père Rémi Sempé above).^[1]