The shrine of St. Padre Pio in Santo Tomas City, Batangas, was formally declared an international shrine on Wednesday, September 23, the feast day of the Italian saint.
It is the second international shrine in the Philippines, after the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City.
From chapel to international shrine
The Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization issued the decree elevating the shrine on May 25, 2026, the 139th birth anniversary of St. Padre Pio.
The 12-hectare complex houses first-class relics of the saint. It began as a small chapel in 2003, was declared an archdiocesan shrine in 2008 and became a national shrine in 2015.
A place of healing
Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said the sanctuary "serves as a living haven of medical, physical, and spiritual healing." He described its message as "a direct antidote to contemporary despair."
The shrine's rector, Fr. Oca Andal, said the faithful have "a place where they can encounter God and feel His love and mercy."
Welcoming pilgrims
The shrine plans to offer Masses in English and other languages, ministries for visiting pilgrims and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
