SANTO TOMAS, Batangas — The Holy See has officially designated the National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Barangay San Pedro as an international shrine, marking a major religious milestone for the Catholic Church in the Philippines.
The formal declaration took place on Wednesday, September 23, coinciding with the feast day of the Italian Capuchin friar.
Now officially named the Padre Pio International Shrine of the Philippines, the decree was issued on May 25, 2026, by the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization on what was the saint’s 139th birth anniversary.
It stands as the country’s second international shrine, following the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo, and the first in the Philippines devoted to Saint Padre Pio.
What started as a modest chapel in 2003 was established as an archdiocesan shrine in 2008 and declared a national shrine in 2015. Situated on a 12-hectare property, the site houses first-class relics of the saint and attracts thousands of pilgrims annually.
Saint Padre Pio (1887–1968), born in Pietrelcina, Italy, gained global veneration for his deep prayer life, the stigmata, and miracles of healing. Following his canonization by Pope John Paul II in 2002, Marian and Capuchin devotions dedicated to him expanded rapidly throughout Asia.
Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera described the Vatican’s recognition as a monumental moment for both the local archdiocese and the broader Philippine Catholic community.