The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced on Wednesday, Jan. 24, that more than 80 bishops are expected to witness the declaration of the Antipolo Cathedral as an international shrine.
The nation’s Catholic bishops will gather in Antipolo on Friday, Jan. 26 to attend the liturgy at 10 a.m. to be presided over by Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio of the Philippines.
Before the Mass, a solemn procession of the image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage will be held at 8 a.m., followed by a special rite of coronation led by the nuncio and Bishop Ruperto Santos of Antipolo at 9:30 a.m.
The cathedral, also the country’s first national shrine, is a popular pilgrimage site visited by many devotees of Our Lady of Antipolo.
Its elevation to international shrine status recognizes its significance not just within the Philippines but for the global Catholic community—where this makes it the first international shrine in the country, the third in Asia, and the 11th in the world.
On the other hand, the bishops from across the country are currently in Manila for a seminar in preparation for their 127th plenary assembly at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center on Saturday until noon on Jan. 29.
The CBCP is currently composed of 125 members, 82 active, 39 are bishops emeriti, and four are priest administrators.
In June 2022, the Vatican announced the approval of the petition to elevate the cathedral into an international shrine.
Pope Francis declared the popular pilgrimage site as an international shrine on Mar. 25.