May 13 (Reuters) - Pope Benedict, on a visit to Brazil, held a Mass on Sunday in Aparecida do Norte, the largest shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the world.

Here are some facts about the shrine:

* Aparecida is a Brazilian city in Sao Paulo state. It is located in the River Paraiba do Sul valley.

* It is home to the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, who was declared Brazil's patron saint by Pope Pius XI in July 1930.

* Aparecida annually receives more than 8 million visitors, making it one of the most popular religious pilgrimage sites in Latin America.

* The Basilica houses a statue of Our Lady of Aparecida, thought to have been found in the Paraiba River in 1717. It is made of clay and measures about 14 inches (36 cm) in height.

* In 1978 it was destroyed in an attack and reduced to hundreds of fragments. It was meticulously put back together by specialists from the Museum of Sacred Art of Sao Paulo.

* As the statue became more popular, a larger temple became necessary and construction began on a new Basilica in 1955. This building, in the form of a Greek cross, is 570 feet (173 m) long and 550 feet (168 m) wide with a dome 230 feet (70 m) high. The Basilica can hold 45,000 people.

Sources: Reuters/Shrine Web site www.sanctuarionacional.com.br

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