Vatican grants minor basilica status to Marikina shrine

The Vatican has elevated the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Paul of the Cross in Marikina to the status of a minor basilica — the first in the Philippines to receive the designation under Pope Leo XIV.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) confirmed that the title was granted at the request of Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos in recognition of the shrine’s spiritual significance and the deep faith of its community.

The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued the decree on 13 May. Although the petition was submitted in December 2024 under Pope Francis, the official approval came just days after Cardinal Robert Prevost’s election as pope.

The shrine becomes the second minor basilica in the Diocese of Antipolo, following the Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Taytay, which received the title earlier this year.

Santos described the recognition as a “momentous blessing” and “sacred recognition” for both the parish and the diocese.

“May this basilica become a haven of prayer, renewal, and spiritual refuge, echoing the love and mercy of God to all who seek Him,” he said.

The bishop said the two basilicas now stand as “pillars of devotion,” drawing pilgrims and worshippers to encounter Christ in a "more profound way."

“As we celebrate this divine gift, may we continue to nurture and strengthen our faith, bringing forth the spirit of evangelization in our community,” Santos said.

Established in 1975, the shrine is the oldest church in the Philippines dedicated to St. Paul of the Cross. Originally administered by the Passionist Fathers, it came under diocesan care in 2004. It also houses the pontifically crowned image of the Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Marikina.

Minor basilicas have a special link to the pope and the Church of Rome. They are distinguished by privileges such as the ombrellino — a red and yellow canopy — and the tintinnabulum, a bell on a pole used in processions. They may also display the crossed papal keys as a symbol of their connection to the Holy See.