Pope Francis has granted canonical coronation to the image of the Our Lady of Mercy in Quezon City.
The news was announced during a Mass at the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy, Sunday, June 6.
A CBCP News post said a pontifical coronation is a "pious institutional act, wherein the Pope, through a bull, designates a crown or stellar halo to be added to a Marian image under a specific devotional title in a particular area or diocese."
The Mass also celebrated the granting of “spiritual bond of affinity” between the parish and the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome which means that all indulgences granted in the basilica will be gained in the diocesan shrine.
"Last January, on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, our dear Bishop Most. Rev. Roberto Gaa D.D proclaims Our Lady of Mercy as 'Ina ng Novaliches,' In May, we receive the Spiritual Bond of Affinity document with Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. With gratitude and joy, we are now on the Pontifical Coronation of Our Lady of Mercy," the shrine said in a Facebook post.
"Indeed this is the Year for our Church and Mary, Our Lady of Mercy," it further read.
The shrine also posted the letter dated May 24 from the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments approving the petition for pontifical crowning.
The date for the canonical coronation of the Marian image has yet to be announced.