"Marijanska svetišča že od samega začetka krščanstva predstavljajo posebna mesta za tiste vernike, ki želijo spoznati in odkriti svoje korenine ter se odpraviti po sledeh apostolov. Spodbujajo miroljubno sožitje med ljudmi različnih veroizpovedi. /…/ Marijanska svetišča tako ponujajo priložnost za dialog in mirno soočanje, za srečanje v veri spravljenih vernikov."
Nadškof Agostino Marchetto, tajnik Papeškega sveta za pastoralo priseljencev in popotnikov

Arhitektura le stežka pridobi simboličen kapital. Sprejemanje določene gradnje izhaja iz odnosa, ki se vzpostavi med arhitekturo in načinom, na katerega družbena skupnost to arhitekturo doživlja v kulturnem, uporabnem ali čustvenem smislu. Odnos med arhitekturo in njenim doživljanjem je pogojevan s heterogenimi predstavami in pričakovanji o vrednotah, ki naj bi jih arhitektura zastopala, zlasti v položajih, ki imajo močan identiteten naboj.
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Marian sanctuaries have been, from the very beginning of Christianity, significant places for believers who wish to get to know and reveal their roots and follow the steps of the Apostles. They can encourage a peaceful co existence between people and different religions.... In that sense, Marian sanctuaries provide occasions for a dialogue and peaceful confrontation, for meeting of believers, reconciled in religion.’
Archbishop Agostino Marhcetto, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples

It is difficult for architecture to obtain symbolical status. Acceptance of a certain building results from the established relationship between architecture and the way in which the community perceives this architecture in a cultural, functional or emotional sense. This relationship between architecture and its perception is conditioned by heterogeneous conceptions of and expectations from the values which architecture should advocate, especially in situations that have a powerful identity charge.
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