AFTER the International Shrine of Our Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City, will the National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio follow suit?
Members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have agreed to endorse the Santo Tomas, Batangas church’s bid to be recognized as among the international shrines of the Roman Catholic Church.
“We have approved to endorse the application of the National Shrine of Padre Pio into an international shrine,” said CBCP president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David in a press conference at the conclusion of the 128th CBCP Plenary Assembly held in Cagayan de Oro City.
Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera welcomed the CBCP endorsement for the parish church consecrated to Italian Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina to become an international shrine.
“We are really convinced there is a need for Rome to recognize it is an international shrine because of the strong devotion to Santo Padre Pio,” Garcera said.
Located in Santo Tomas City in Batangas, the 12-hectare shrine attracts both local and foreign pilgrims, especially those seeking healing and refuge.
It became the country’s first parish church under the patronage of a Capuchin saint back in 2003.
By 2008, it was elevated as an “archdiocesan shrine” by the Archdiocese of Lipa, and was recognized by the CBCP as a “national shrine” in 2013.
Under Canon Law, a shrine is a church or other sacred place to where the faithful make pilgrimage for a special reason of piety.
For a shrine to be called an international shrine, it must get the approval of the Holy See.
Currently, the International Shrine of Our Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City is the only international shrine in the Philippines.
