Catholic Church in Philippines

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An aerial view shows a long line of trucks stranded along a flooded highway caused by heavy rains brought about by Tropical Storm Trami in Nabua town, Camarines Sur province, South of Manila, Philippines, on Oct. 23, 2024.

Storm leaves scores dead and widespread damage in the Philippines

Oct 28, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Tropical Storm Trami hit the island of Luzon, which includes the capital Manila, bringing two months’ worth of rain to... Read more

Bishop Mylo Hubert C. Vergara of the Diocese of Pasig in the Philippines announced in July 2024 that the Vatican has given permission to continue with the sainthood cause of Servant of God Laureana “Ka Luring” Franco.

Filipino diocese advances sainthood cause for lay catechist Laureana ‘Ka Luring’ Franco

Aug 28, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Franco, a longtime member of the Legion of Mary, dedicated her life to teaching the Catholic faith, praying, and serving... Read more

Filipino newlyweds dance in the street during a reception in Baleno town, Masbate island province in the central Philippines, April 15, 2007.

Filipino bishops urge nation to ‘take a little more time’ before legalizing civil divorce

Jul 12, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The Philippines is the only nation in the world, other than the Vatican, where divorce is still outlawed.  Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square during his general audience on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Pope Francis fields questions from students about gender identity and LGBTQ discrimination

Jun 20, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In the one-hour conversation on June 20 organized by the Building Bridges Initiative, Pope Francis spoke directly to students from... Read more

Archbishop Orlando Beltran Quevedo

Philippine cardinal condemns chapel bombing as ‘horrendous sacrilegious act’

May 21, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

A Catholic cardinal condemned the grenade attack on a village chapel during a Bible service that left two wounded in... Read more

Exposition of the official portrait of Servant of God Niña Ruíz-Abad on April 7, 2024, at the Cathedral of St. William the Hermit in Laoag City, Philippines.

13-year-old Filipina who loved the Eucharist is officially on path to sainthood

Apr 11, 2024

By Valerie Joy Escalona

On April 7, the cause for canonization of 13-year-old Filipina Niña Ruíz-Abad was officially opened at St. William the Hermit... Read more

The official portrait of Servant of God Niña Ruíz-Abad was presented to the public during the opening session of the diocesan phase of her cause for beatification and canonization at the Cathedral Church of St. William the Hermit in Laoag City on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

Filipino Catholic Church presents official portrait of 13-year-old girl considered for sainthood

Apr 9, 2024

By Diego López Marina

The official portrait of Servant of God Niña Ruíz-Abad was presented during the opening of the diocesan phase of her... Read more

The Vatican on March 16, 2024, determined that nothing prevents the opening of the cause for canonization of Niña Ruiz-Abad, a 13-year-old girl who died in 1993 in the Philippines and whose grave has become a place of pilgrimage.

Vatican authorizes opening of cause for canonization for 13-year-old Filipina girl

Mar 18, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The grave of Niña Ruiz-Abad, a 13-year-old girl who died in 1993 in the Philippines, has become a place of... Read more

The second floor of St. Peter the Apostle Church in San José del Monte in the Philippines collapsed during Ash Wednesday Mass on Feb. 14, 2024.

Church floor in Philippines collapses on Ash Wednesday, killing 1 and injuring dozens

Feb 15, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Witnesses reportedly heard a loud noise and then screams from the people who fell from the balcony and from some... Read more

A Catholic devotee kisses the glass cover of the Black Nazarene statue during the annual procession for the feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila, Philippines, on Jan. 9, 2024. Hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful swarmed a historic statue of Jesus Christ as it was pulled through the streets of the Philippine capital in one of the world’s biggest displays of religious devotion.

Black Nazarene procession in the Philippines draws millions after returning from COVID

Jan 9, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The Black Nazarene procession in the Philippines, one of the largest religious devotions in the world, returned this year to... Read more

Cardinal Thomas Aquinas Manyo Maeda of Osaka, Japan.

Catholic Church reportedly closer to getting its first samurai saint

Dec 23, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

The Vatican is currently investigating miracles associated with the intercession of Blessed Justus Ukon Takayama. Read more

Military personnel stand guard at the entrance of a gymnasium while police investigators (background) look for evidence after a bomb attack at Mindanao State University in Marawi in the southern Philippines on Dec. 3, 2023.

Pope Francis prays for victims of bombing of Catholic Mass in the Philippines

Dec 4, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Dec. 3 blast in a university gymnasium. Read more

Military personnel stand guard at the entrance of a gymnasium while police investigators look for evidence after a bomb attack at a Catholic Mass at Mindanao State University in Marawi, Lanao del sur province in the southern Philippines on Dec. 3, 2023. At least three people were killed and seven wounded, officials said.

At least three killed in explosion during Mass on Philippine campus

Dec 3, 2023

By Shannon Mullen

Authorities are investigating whether Islamic insurgents were responsible for the blast. Read more

Fathers Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva (left) and Albert Alejo speak to the media before appearing for court on Feb. 11, 2021, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Filipino priests acquitted of sedition charges

Sep 8, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Father Albert Alejo, SJ, and Father Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva, a priest of the Society of the Divine Word, were acquitted... Read more

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and pilgrims from the Philippines at the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal

Cardinal Tagle to young Filipinos: ‘Only Jesus will make us true influencers’

Aug 4, 2023

By Roy Lagarde

Speaking to young Filipino pilgrims at World Youth Day in Lisbon, the cardinal expressed hope they would find a way... Read more

More than 100,000 faithful gathered Jan. 8, 2023, to venerate the “Black Nazarene” in the Philippines after a two-year suspension of the traditional procession due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

‘Black Nazarene’ procession in the Philippines draws over 100,000 two years after pandemic

Jan 10, 2023

By CNA Staff

The origin of the image dates back to 1607, when the wooden image representing Christ bent under the weight of... Read more

The Salamat Maria exhibit at Ali Mall in Quezon City.

Filipino mall exhibits more than 50 images of the Virgin Mary to celebrate her nativity

Sep 8, 2022

By Diego López Marina

The oldest major shopping center in the Philippines is exhibiting more than 50 Marian images to celebrate the feast of... Read more

A display opposing the passage of the anti-terrorism law under which the nuns have been charged, at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, June 17, 2020.

Filipino nuns charged with funding terrorists deny links to communist group

Sep 2, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

A group of Filipino nuns has strongly denied any connection with terrorist activities after facing charges last month brought by... Read more

Archbishop Teofilo Camomot

Pope Francis advances sainthood cause of Filipino bishop known for bilocation

May 21, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope also approved the canonization of Blessed Giovanni Battista Scalabrini. Read more

A girl praying at the Basilica del Santo Niño in Cebu, Philippines in 2019.

Fearful of world war, Philippines' bishops to join Pope Francis’ consecration of Russia and Ukraine

Mar 17, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Voicing concern that the far-away conflict in Europe will have consequences in Asia, the Catholic bishops of the Philippines, one... Read more