Pope Francis has gifted the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo Cathedral) with the Golden Rose (Rosa d’ Oro), considered as the highest honor granted by a Pontiff to a Marian image or shrine.
“The Golden Rose is considered as the highest honor given personally by the Supreme Pontiff to a Marian image and shrine across the world as it is a commissioned gift from the Pope himself,” the Antipolo Cathedral said in a Facebook post.
Diocese of Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos expressed his gratitude to the Holy Father for the gift.
“I would like to express my profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to our Holy Father Pope Francis for this special blessing and unique papal tradition of the gifting of the Golden Rose. We are very honored to receive this significant gesture defining a deep spiritual connection between the Pope and the Catholic Church's strong reverence for the Mother of God,” said Bishop Santos in a statement.
“Our heartfelt thanks to Archbishop Rino Fisichella for visiting our International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage to offer this Golden Rose, a symbol of papal blessing and reverence,” he added.
“Coming to Antipolo now has a deeper meaning and comes with a new challenge. The blessing of receiving the Golden Rose is implanted in us. As such, we ourselves have become living with those who are called to spread this blessing wherever we go. Whenever we call or respond to the invitation: ‘Tayo na sa Antipolo’ (Let us go to Antipolo), let us spread the fragrance of mercy. Let us share the scent of forgiveness. Let us scatter the aroma of God’s love. Let the seed of the Golden Rose planted here bloom into a garden of endless roses from our diocese to all the parts of the country and the world,” said the bishop.
The Antipolo Cathedral said the honor given to the Marian shrine is the first in the country. It is the ninth Golden Rose given by Pope Francis to a Marian shrine since the beginning of his Pontificate.
In 1953, Pope Pius XII offered the Golden Rose at the tomb of St. Francis Xavier at the Se Cathedral in Goa, India, making it the first church in Asia to be gifted with the Golden Rose by a Pope.
“This gift to Antipolo is the first time for a Marian shrine in the Philippines and in the whole continent of Asia,” the Antipolo Cathedral said. The cathedral is the third church in Asia to receive the Golden Rose and the 43rd church in the world.
Archbishop Salvatore “Rino” Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Section on Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization personally offered the Golden Rose at the foot of the revered image of the Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje during the “Misa de Gracia” that he celebrated at the Antipolo Cathedral on Monday, Feb. 26.
The Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated exactly a month after the formal declaration of the Antipolo Cathedral as an international shrine.
Made from pure gold, the tradition began in the Middle Ages. The Pope blesses the Golden Rose on Laetare Sunday on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. The Golden Rose is conferred as a token of reverence or affection. Recipients have included churches, sanctuaries, royalty, military figures and governments.
A shrine may be gifted with the Golden Rose more than once but from different Pontiffs like the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of Saint Mary Major) which has been honored with the Golden Rose by Pope Francis on Dec. 8, 2023 as well as by Pope Julius III in 1551 and by Pope Paul V in 1613.