The Inviting God

It’s possibly the world’s largest cathedral. It’s in Africa. And it’s virtually empty.

In West Africa -- Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), to be specific -- there's this huge, ginormous cathedral. It looks like a big pearl rising from the surrounding squalor.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro is listed in Guinness World Records as the largest church in the world, surpassing the previous record holder, Saint Peter's Basilica. It has an area of 30,000 square meters (322,917 sq. ft.) and is 158 meters (518 ft.) high.

Granted, not everyone, including the Vatican, was thrilled, or is thrilled. The good people of West Africa wonder why dictator Félix Houphouöt-Boigny wants to memorialize himself in such a lavish way. What's with the "Go big -- or go home" mentality? In the midst of such poverty (the annual per capita income for the Ivory Coast is $650), a basilica costing $300 million might be a little much. You think?

The problem is not just the size of the building. It's not just the ornate architecture. It's the fact that this massive...