Pope Pius IX granted two Pontifical decrees towards the shrine on the same day on 15 April 1876: It was Louis-Antoine-Augustin Pavy, who served as the Bishop of Algiers from 1846 to 1866, who paved the way for its construction.

[3] Its floor plan is unusual as the choir is situated on the southeast instead of the usual east side of the building.

[4] In 1930 an organ, built in 1911, was donated to the basilica by the wife of the late Albert Weddell, a wealthy English resident in Algiers at Villa Georges and friend of the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns who had inaugurated the organ at Weddell's home.

[5] Today the basilica regularly hosts cultural activities, such as music concerts and exhibitions.

It can be considered to be the counter-piece to the church of Notre-Dame de la Garde on the other side of the Mediterranean.