Vatican elevates Sta. Cruz Church to minor basilica

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis has declared the Sta. Cruz Parish Church in Manila as a minor basilica.

According to the CBCPNews, the Sta. Cruz parish is now one of the 25 churches in the country to receive the Vatican designation.

The church’s official title will be the “Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar.”

The honor recognizes that a place of worship carries significant historical, architectural or spiritual importance.

It also signifies that the church has a “closer relationship to the pope” and has the right to display the papal symbol of crossed keys on its banners, furnishings and seal.

The Sta. Cruz Church was established in 1619, with Jesuit priests ministering to the growing Chinese population in the area.

In 1643, the Jesuits enshrined a replica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza from Spain, which became the church’s patroness.

The church’s original structure was damaged by two major earthquakes before it was completely destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945.

In 1984, then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin named St. Peter Julian Eymard as the second patron of the church.

In 2018, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who was then the archbishop of Manila, declared the church as the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament.

Meanwhile, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said Pope Francis’ recovery was an “answered prayer.”

The pontiff returned to the Vatican following his hospital release on Monday.