Pope grants minor basilica status to 2 Philippine churches

Elevation of Marian churches follows request from respective dioceses.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Quezon City is now a minor basilica. (Photo by Angie de Silva)

Manila:  The Vatican has approved a request from two Philippine dioceses to elevate two churches to minor basilica status, a privilege granted by the pope.

Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao confirmed on Dec. 16 that the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Quezon City is now a minor basilica.

Also granted the same privilege was St. John the Baptist Parish Church, also known as the Shrine of La Virgen de Milagrosa de Badoc, in Ilocos Norte province.

Bishop Ongtioco said a "formal announcement" would be made soon despite a letter from the Vatican granting the diocese's request having been posted on its social media page.

"The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments ... very willingly bestows upon the parish church ... the title and dignity of a Minor Basilica," read the letter.

Bishop Renato Mayugba of Laoag also announced in a circular in his diocese news of their church's elevation.

According to canon law, no church building can be honored with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom.

Today, only the pope through the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is authorized to grant the decree.

Source: UCAN