https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilicas_in_the_Catholic_Church https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilicas_in_the_Catholic_Chur... indicates that there are four maj

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilicas_in_the_Catholic_Church https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilicas_in_the_Catholic_Chur... indicates that there are four major basilicas and almost 2,000 minor ones. Seems like the four major basilicas have historical (maybe even pre-Schism?) associations, while the minor ones are designated by the pope.