A 16th-century parish church in Manila’s Tondo district is the latest in the Philippines to be named a minor basilica.
The Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of Santo Niño de Tondo is now the Minor Basilica of Santo Niño de Tondo.
The parish announced the Vatican’s decree Monday, shortly after being notified by the Archdiocese of Manila of its elevation.
“This meaningful moment marks the official transmission of the Holy Father’s decree, an important step in the journey toward our new title as a Minor Basilica,” the shrine said.
“As we give thanks to God for this blessing, we now look forward to the next chapter in this grace-filled milestone,” it added.
Founded in 1572, the shrine is considered the first parish church in the Luzon region, with Tambobong (Malabon), Caloocan, Betis in Pampanga, and Calumpit in Bulacan as its early vesitas.
The church is also home to the second-oldest image of the Santo Niño in the country, after the Santo Niño de Cebu.
Over the years, it has become a pilgrimage site, drawing the faithful from near and far who seek spiritual renewal and an encounter with the Child Jesus.
A basilica is a church given special recognition by the pope, often for its beauty, historical significance or importance to the faith.
A basilica is not required to be a cathedral — which derives from “cathedra,” the bishop’s chair — and most basilicas are not cathedrals, just as most cathedrals are not basilicas, though some churches hold both titles.
There are now 29 minor basilicas in the Philippines, according to the Association of Catholic Shrines and Pilgrimages of the Philippines, or ACSP, which keeps the list.
As a basilica, the shrine will receive an ombrellino, a yellow-and-red silk canopy, and a tintinnabulum, a bell mounted on a pole traditionally used during papal visits. Together, they symbolize its new status.
The basilica also gains the privilege of displaying the Vatican City coat of arms on its facade and the crossed keys of St. Peter on its furnishings and liturgical items.
