January 17, 2012: Pope Benedict XVI has informed Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, of the decision to designate St. Michael the Archangel, Pensacola, as a minor basilica. The application for consideration of St. Michael was sent to Pope John Paul II in 2003. The application had to follow strict guidelines and answer specific questions regarding the historical significance of the parish and the church. Tracing its roots to the Spanish exploration of northwest Florida in the 16th century, the parish was canonically established in 1781 and is the oldest continuously operating parish in the state of Florida.

The parish will commemorate this historical event at a Eucharistic celebration at St. Michael on Friday, February 10, at 7 p.m. (CST). Archbishop Wenski will be the principal celebrant of the Mass.

See this diocesan link for further details: http://www.ptdiocese.org/article.asp?ID=242