The National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, also known as Antipolo Cathedral, will effectively bear its new status as an ‘international shrine’ on 25 March, the Cathedral said in a Facebook post on Monday night.

This nearly a year after the Vatican announced the elevation of the Church, making it the first in the country and Southeast Asia, but also the eleventh international shrine globally, having the same status as the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua in Italy, Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, and Seoul Catholic Pilgrimage Route in South Korea.

“Since the declaration last June, it’s official – We are now elevated into an international shrine, on the momentous occasion of the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis as head of our Church. […] We are now in full anticipation of the solemn declaration of our international shrine in the coming months,” the Church said on Facebook.

Following the announcement, the Diocese of Antipolo expressed gratitude to Pope Francis and the Holy See for giving the Church its new title.

“We are forever grateful as our prayers have been granted. Viva La Virgen,” the Diocese said in a Facebook post.

The Catholic Church’s Canon Law states that shrines are intended as a church or other sacred place to which numerous members of the faithful make the pilgrimage for a special reason of piety, with the approval of the local ordinary,’ and that international shrines should be declared by the Holy See.

Indeed, Antipolo Cathedral remains a famed pilgrimage site. According to their website, the church attracts ‘millions of pilgrims’, particularly during the Pilgrimage Season from late April to May.