The Vatican has bestowed "minor basilica" status on the Miraculous Medal Shrine and the church that houses it in Germantown. Minor basilica status gives the shrine, located on the grounds of Saint Vincent’s Seminary in Northwest Philadelphia, prominence among other churches as well as certain honorifics and responsibilities. There is just one other minor basilica in Philadelphia and 91 others across the U.S.
Countless Valley residents went to New York City in April 2008 to see Pope Benedict XVI on his first American visit. The luckiest were able to attend his Mass at Yankee Stadium.