 Pope John Paul II elevated St. Mary's to the rank of a minor basilica in 1985, two years before his visit to Phoenix in 1987, when he visited St. Mary's and addressed crowds of thousands from the balcony on the facade.The principal symbols of its status as a Basilica, the Tintinnabulum (large bell on a column) and the Ombrellone (Large gold and red umbrella) are displayed prominently in the sanctuary.St.