Little Italy church 1st Basilica in NY Archdiocese

Little Italy (WABC) -- A special honor came to a historic church in Little Italy on Sunday.

Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral on Mulberry Street has become the first Basilica in the New York Archdiocese.

Pope Benedict XVI bestowed the honor on churches of special historical and spiritual significance.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan made it official in a ceremony on Sunday.

The church was featured in the films "Mean Streets" and "Godfather 3."

It was the city's first Roman Catholic cathedral.

This is not New York City's first Basilica, as there is one in Brooklyn. But it is Manhattan's first and the first in the New York Archdiocese.

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new york city, st. patrick cathedral, archbishop timothy dolan, pope benedict XVI, new york news

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