MANILA — The Shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas, is preparing to welcome pilgrims from around the world after the Vatican elevated the Philippine church to the status of an international shrine.
The declaration was formally marked on Sept. 23, the feast day of St. Padre Pio, following the Vatican’s decision to grant the shrine international status earlier this year. The elevation recognizes its growing role as a destination for prayer, pilgrimage, reconciliation and evangelization.
Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said the shrine’s new status reflects how a once primarily local center of devotion has developed into a pilgrimage destination attracting large numbers of devotees.
As an international shrine, the site is expected to welcome pilgrims from different countries while promoting the spiritual message associated with St. Padre Pio, particularly prayer, trust in God and service to others.
The Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization issued the decree elevating the shrine on May 25, 2026. Under the Catholic Church’s canon law, an international shrine requires approval from the Holy See, making the designation a significant recognition within the Church’s pilgrimage network.
The Philippines now has two international shrines. The other is the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo, which received the designation in 2023.
The elevation also gives the Padre Pio Shrine a broader pastoral mission. International shrines are intended to provide opportunities for worship, prayer, spiritual guidance and Christian formation, while also encouraging charitable works and service to communities in need.
Garcera said the shrine could also serve as a place promoting peace and reconciliation amid political divisions, social tensions and religious conflicts around the world. He described the site’s mission as extending beyond pilgrimage toward spiritual renewal and efforts to bring communities together.
The shrine’s elevation is expected to increase its visibility among international Catholic pilgrims and further establish Sto. Tomas as an important destination for religious tourism in the Philippines.
With the formal recognition now in place, the challenge ahead will be accommodating a growing international pilgrimage community while preserving the shrine’s religious and pastoral character.
