San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza has decreed the authenticity of the bone relics of Saint Charles Borromeo kept at the San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral in Negros Occidental.
According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Bishop Alminaza made the decree after an expert on relics confirmed that the two relics originated from the bones of St. Charles, who is regarded as the patron saint of bishops, catechists and other spiritual leaders.
The Church leader said the sacred relics have been held privately for years due to the misplacement of their certificate of authenticity, which cannot be located.
“Through this decree, I hereby grant permission for these relics to be enshrined in the Cathedral Church and/or made available for public veneration,” Bishop Alminaza said in a statement.
The bishop’s decree was issued on July 13 and was made public by the Diocese of San Carlos on Aug. 31.
“The relics bear the symbols of authenticity: a red thread and a red wax seal, recognized as the coat of arms of the Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome. Hence, the two relics of Saint Charles have been officially authorized by the relevant office responsible for bestowing relics upon deserving ecclesial communities,” Bishop Alminaza said.
St. Charles Borromeo was the Archbishop of Milan in Italy from 1564 to 1584 and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He was a leading figure of the Counter-Reformation combat against the Protestant Reformation together with Saints Ignatius of Loyola and Philip Neri.