Manila (AsiaNews) – A solemn Mass today marked the historic elevation of the place of worship, dedicated to the saint of Pietrelcina in the Archdiocese of Lipa, to the status of an international shrine amid crowds of faithful and devotees, reflecting the joy of the those present.
“I am happy that now the shrine is declared as an international shrine, where people will continue to pray and witness the Gospel through the intercession of Saint Pio,” said Maria Rodulof, a devotee, speaking to AsiaNews.
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan and current Vice-President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) led the ceremony at the shrine, which is in Santo Tomas, a city in Batangas province.
Cardinals, bishops, and priests from India, China, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam co-celebrated the liturgy in the presence of thousands of pilgrims and faithful gathered to witness this significant milestone for the Philippines and, indeed, all of Asia.
With this recognition from the Holy See, the Saint Padre Pio parish becomes the country's second international shrine, a centre for prayer, healing, and spiritual pilgrimage that is both a local and global.
On 26 January 2024, the same honour was bestowed upon the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo, Rizal province, seat of the homonymous diocese, which made it the first shrine not only in the Philippines but on the entire continent to receive such a distinction.
Today, as the Church celebrates the feast of the saint of Pietrelcina, the Philippines pays tribute to this second international shrine, which was recognised by the Vatican through a decree issued by the Dicastery for Evangelisation on 25 May, the saint’s 139th birthday.
Saint Padre Pio (1887–1968) – an Italian priest of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, a mystic from Pietrelcina (Apulia), and a figure renowned for bearing the stigmata – is known worldwide for his life of prayer and the numerous healings attributed to him.
Following his canonisation by Saint John Paul II in 2002, devotion to the saint spread rapidly among Catholics in the Philippines and across Asia.
Padre Pio’s words lie at the heart of the message welcoming pilgrims from every country as they arrive at the shrine’s gates: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry”.
Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, who also chairs the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), described this recognition as a historic milestone for the local Church and, more broadly, for the country as a whole.
Today’s celebration, the prelate added, is a recognition of the parishioners' devotion and pastoral charity.
“Rooted in Padre Pio's profound compassion for human suffering, this sanctuary serves as a living haven of medical, physical, and spiritual healing," he said.
“Through its monthly healing Masses every 23rd of the month, holistic pastoral care, and accessible Sacrament of Reconciliation, the shrine offers dignity, solace, and divine mercy to those carrying heavy burdens of illness or adversity," the prelate added.
With its new status, the shrine hopes to celebrate Masses in English and other languages for pilgrims arriving from other countries.
In 2003, the Archdiocese of Lipa opened a chapel dedicated to Saint Pio in Santo Tomas, within a 12-hectare complex that houses first-class relics of the saint. In 2008, the site was elevated to the rank of archdiocesan shrine and parish, and in 2015, the CBCP declared it a national shrine.
Given the growing number of pilgrims and devotees from the Philippines and Asia, the CBCP and the Archdiocese of Lipa requested that the Vatican recognise it as an international shrine.
Under the declaration, the place of worship has attained the status of an international shrine for a three-year trial period. During Mass, Cardinal David expressed the hope that it would be a place of encounter with Christ through the intercession of Saint Pio.
Finally, the cardinal invited the pilgrims to follow the saint's example by praying for the conversion of all and practising charity toward the poor and needy.
Noting that in 1956 Saint Pio founded a renowned hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo, southern Italy, named Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (Home for the Relief of Suffering), he expressed hope that a counselling centre dedicated to psycho-spiritual and mental well-being, as well as a hospital, might be established here too.
