Knock Shrine has been designated an International Marian and Eucharistic Shrine.
The designation was made by Pope Francis, during a special address by video link from the Vatican.
The Pontiff has declared 2021 as the year of St Joseph.
The Rector of Knock Shrine, Fr Richard Gibbons, said the recognition was of particular significance, given the apparition of St Joseph in Knock in 1879.
He said it meant Knock was recognised on an international level in terms of its special status.
Two church commissions of inquiry found testimony given by 15 witnesses to the August 1879 events to be "trustworthy and satisfactory".
They gave evidence of seeing an apparition of Mary, St Joseph and St John the Evangelist at the gable end of the church in Knock.
Pope Francis visited the shrine in August 2018, during his visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families.
The designation follows a request from the Archbishop of Tuam that the shrine be recognised internationally by the Catholic Church.
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