MANILA (SE): Pope Francis declared Santuario de San Pedro Bautista, in San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City, the Philippines, a minor basilica, according a report by CBCP News on July 10.
The Diocese of Cubao made the announcement on July 9.
The Franciscan-run church is the one of the oldest in the country, dating back to 1590 and is the second in the diocese to be made a minor basilica after the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. There are only 17 churches in the Philippines that carry this designation.
Minor basilicas are traditionally named because of their antiquity, dignity, historical value, architectural and artistic worth, and significance as centers of worship.
The bestowal of the title signifies a particular bond between the basilica and the pope and symbols demonstrating that will be installed and blessed at a Mass solemnising the designation later this year.
The church is situated in the same are where the parish’s patron, San (saint) Pedro Bautista, stayed when he was assigned in the Philippines.
San Pedro Bautista, a Franciscan missionary and a known theologian, was in the country for 10 years being sent to Japan where he was martyred.
A date of celebration to formally declare the shrine as a minor basilica has yet to be announced, CBCP News reported.
