By Social Communications

Published on March 27, 2025

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Pope Francis has officially granted the Sta. Cruz Parish Church in Manila the esteemed title of “Minor Basilica,” making it the 25th church in the Philippines to receive this distinction.

The announcement was confirmed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in a post on its website on March 26, 2025.

From this point onward, the church will be known as the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar.

The minor basilica title, a significant honor, recognizes the church’s rich historical, architectural, and spiritual value.

This recognition also establishes a stronger connection between the Sta. Cruz Church and the Vatican, as well as granting it the privilege to display the papal symbol of crossed keys.

Founded in 1619 by Jesuit priests to serve Manila’s Chinese community, the Sta. Cruz Church has long been a religious and cultural landmark.

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

The church, however, has faced challenges throughout its history. It was severely damaged in two major earthquakes and destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945.

The current structure, reflecting Baroque architectural influences, was completed in 1957.

In 1984, Cardinal Jaime Sin of Manila restored the name Sta. Cruz Parish and named St. Peter Julian Eymard as the church’s second patron.

The parish’s devotion to the Holy Eucharist was further strengthened by the Blessed Sacrament Fathers and Brothers, who took over its administration in the 1950s.

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

While no formal date has been set for the official declaration of Sta. Cruz Church as a Minor Basilica, the honor solidifies its significance as a key religious site in the Philippines.