QUEZON CITY (PIA) -- Good news! The Quiapo Church has been elevated to the status of a national shrine. This is after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has approved the elevation of the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene, or Quiapo Church, to national shrine status.

“For many years, the home of the centuries-old and revered image of the Black Nazarene has served as a prominent landmark for pilgrims from all corners of the country,” the CBCP said.

Situated in the heart of Manila, the Quiapo Church becomes the 29th national shrine in the country. Just this May, Cardinal Advincula elevated the church to the status of an archdiocesan shrine.

For many years, the home of the centuries-old and revered image of the Black Nazarene has served as a pilgrimage site for Filipinos.

Since the “traslacion,” or the transfer of the image from Intramuros to Quiapo in 1787, Quiapo Church has emerged as a center of devotion for Filipinos, particularly for the poor and the suffering.

What initially began as a local feast celebrated on January 9 has now grown in prominence, with devotees across the country and even overseas joining in the festivities.

In 1987, St. John Paul II elevated the church to the status of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, recognizing its significant role in fostering a profound popular devotion to Jesus Christ and its cultural impact on the religious practices of Filipinos. (JEG - PIA NCR with information from CBCP )