Vatican elevates Marikina shrine as first minor basilica under Pope Leo XIV

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Vatican has elevated the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Paul of the Cross in Marikina City to the status of a minor basilica—the first in the Philippines to receive the honor under the papacy of Pope Leo XIV.

The announcement was made following the issuance of a decree by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments dated May 13.

The request was submitted by Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos in December 2024, during the pontificate of Pope Francis. The decree was issued five days after Cardinal Robert Prevost assumed the papacy as Pope Leo XIV.

The Marikina shrine now becomes the second minor basilica in the Diocese of Antipolo, alongside the Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Taytay, which was granted the title in early 2024.

Bishop Santos described the recognition as a “momentous blessing” and a “sacred recognition” for the shrine 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 in a CBCP News report.

He added that the two basilicas in the diocese serve as spiritual pillars, inviting pilgrims and worshippers “to encounter Christ in a profound and transformative 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.

Founded as a parish in 1975, the Marikina shrine is the oldest church in the country dedicated to St. Paul of the Cross. It was initially under the care of the Passionist Fathers before being turned over to the diocese in 2004.

The church is also home to the pontifically crowned image of the Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Marikina, a focus of Marian devotion in the area.

Minor basilicas enjoy a special bond with the pope and the Church of Rome. They are permitted to use symbols such as the ombrellino (a red and yellow canopy) and the tintinnabulum (a bell mounted on a pole used in processions), and may display the crossed papal keys on official insignia and banners.