Originally built by the Portuguese in 1505, the Santa Cruz Church was elevated to a Cathedral in 1558 by Pope Paul IV. However, the Dutch conquerors destroyed the original structure in 1663. Almost 130 years later, in 1795, the British demolished the remaining structure. In 1887, Bishop D. Joao Gomes Ferreira commissioned the construction of a new church on the same site. The current Basilica was consecrated in 1905. In 1984, Pope John Paul II declared the church a Basilica, recognizing its historical and religious importance. The Basilica stands as a symbol of resilience and the enduring faith of the Christian community in Kochi.