Vatican grants international status to Padre Pio shrine in Batangas

The National Shrine and Parish of St. Padre Pio has been granted international shrine status by the Holy See.

On June 4, the parish in Santo Tomas announced that the Dicastery for Evangelization had issued the decree on May 25, 2026, coinciding with the 139th birth anniversary of Saint Padre Pio.

Church leaders hailed the recognition as a significant milestone that is expected to boost pilgrimages and further nurture devotion among both local and international faithful.

"This recognition marks a historic milestone not only for the Shrine and the Archdiocese of Lipa but also for the Church in the Philippines, as it becomes a place of pilgrimage and devotion with international significance," Archbishop Gilbert A. Garcera said in a statement.

“May this historic milestone inspire us to deepen our faith and devotion as we journey together in prayer and thanksgiving,” the parish said.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines unanimously approved the bid for international shrine status during its plenary assembly in July 2024.

The designation makes the church the second international shrine in the Philippines, following the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo Cathedral).

Founded as a chapel in 2003, the site was later elevated to an archdiocesan shrine in 2008 and eventually received national shrine status in 2015.

The shrine is home to first-class relics of St. Padre Pio, who was known for bearing the stigmata and reputed healing abilities. His life and legacy of reported miracles continue to inspire devotion among Catholics worldwide.

Per the CBCP, the church will formally receive its international shrine designation on Sept. 23, the feast day of St. Padre Pio.