MANILA (RVA News): The venerable image of Maria, Ina ng Kapayapaan [Mary, Mother of Peace], at the Parish of Maria, Ina ng Kapayapaan in Barangay Kasiglahan, Rodriguez, Rizal, the Philippines, was granted a pontifical coronation.
The Diocese of Antipolo announced that the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, acting in the name and authority of Pope Leo XIV, had granted the honour.
In a message to the faithful, Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos described the Vatican’s approval as “a truly historic blessing” for the diocese. He said the honour is “a precious gift from the Holy Father and a profound grace for our Diocese, especially during this blessed Jubilee Year.”
The recognition carries special significance because the devotion flourished not in a centuries-old pilgrimage centre but in Kasiglahan Village, a resettlement community that became home to thousands of families relocated from different parts of Metro Manila.
Over the years, residents faced the challenges of rebuilding their lives, establishing communities, and fostering a sense of belonging in unfamiliar surroundings.
For many, devotion to Maria, Ina ng Kapayapaan, became a spiritual anchor. The image gradually attracted a growing number of devotees whose prayers, testimonies, and participation helped strengthen the devotion.
According to Bishop Santos, the coronation also recognises the enduring faith of the people who nurtured the devotion over the years. “Through this Pontifical Coronation, the Universal Church recognises the deep devotion of the faithful to our Blessed Mother under the title Maria, Ina ng Kapayapaan and affirms her maternal presence among the People of God,” he said.
The bishop urged the faithful to entrust themselves anew to the Mother of Peace, praying that she may continue to intercede for families, communities, and the nation.
