By Gabriela Baron
The Vatican has declared the National Shrine of Our Lady Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City as “international shrine,” the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said Sunday, June 26.
Bishop Francisco de Leon of Antipolo Cathedral said the Vatican approved their petition to give the shrine the privilege.
“We received a letter from Rome saying on June 18, our national shrine will be recognized as an international shrine,” De Leon said.
De Leon made the announcement in his homily during Mass at the cathedral to celebrate the diocese’s 39th founding anniversary.
The bishop, however, clarified that the diocese has yet to receive a copy of the official declaration.
The Antipolo shrine becomes the 11th international shrine and the third in Asia after the St. Thomas Church Malayattoor in India; the Haemi Martyrdom Holy Ground and Seoul Pilgrimage Routes in South Korea.
It is, however, the first Marian international shrine in Asia, and the sixth in the world.
The Catholic Church has three kinds of shrines: diocesan shrines, approved by the local bishop; national shrines recognized by the bishops’ conference; and the international shrines endorsed by the Vatican.
International shrines include historic locations such as Jerusalem and Rome, sites of approved Marian apparitions, such Lourdes and Fatima, and places associated with saints, such as Assisi and Lisieux. – ag
