Vatican declares Antipolo Cathedral ‘international shrine’

MANILA, Philippines — The Vatican has declared the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage – popularly known as the Antipolo Cathedral – as an international shrine.

“It’s official. We are now elevated into an international shrine,” an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website, quoting the Antipolo Cathedral, stated.

The CBCP said the decree was sent to the Antipolo Cathedral by the Holy See and will take effect on March 25, making it the country’s first international shrine.

Records show that the Antipolo Cathedral is the third international shrine in Asia and the 11th worldwide.

The CBCP said Antipolo Bishop Francisco de Leon disclosed in June 2022 that the Vatican has approved their petition to grant the international shrine privilege to the cathedral.

It said March 25 coincides with the day when the image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage departed Acapulco on board a galleon 397 years ago.

The cathedral said the galleon was battered by storms and almost caught fire during the three-month voyage, but it still arrived safely on Philippine shores on June 18, 1626.

The title “Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage” was attributed to the image based on circumstances that occurred while it was sailing toward the archipelago.