MANILA (UCAN): The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, popularly known as Manila Cathedral, celebrated the 62nd anniversary of its dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a first metropolitan see—an ecclesiastical or church province headed by an archbishop or a bishop of higher rank or office—on December 10.
“Today we commemorated the 62nd anniversary of the consecration of the post-war Manila Cathedral,” Manila archdiocese officials said in a social media post.
A special Mass led by Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, was also held to mark the event with the congregation limited to only 80 people due to Covid-19 social distancing restrictions.
Known as the “mother of all churches in the Philippines,” Manila Cathedral is located within Manila’s historic walled city of Intramuros.
It was first dedicated in 1571 to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the principal patron of the Philippines when it was originally built as a parish church under the Archdiocese of Mexico. It became a separate diocese on 6 February 1579.
The cathedral is the episcopal seat of the Archbishop of Manila.
To also mark its dedication anniversary, Manila Cathedral posted on social media the marker of Pope Francis’ letter, given to former archbishop of Manila, Luis Cardinal Tagle in 2018, recognising the Filipino people’s faith and role in the Catholic Church.
In his letter, Pope Francis recalled how Manila Cathedral has remained a symbol of the Filipinos’ faith through tumultuous times and extreme circumstances.
“This temple, which has truly undergone great changes, destroyed seven times by earthquakes and other calamities through the centuries, was diligently rebuilt again and again by the faithful,” the pope said in the letter.
