Pope Francis has granted canonical coronation to the image of Our Lady of Mercy, the “Mother of Novaliches” diocese in Quezon City.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website reported on Tuesday that the approval was announced by Archbishop Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, during the Corpus Christi Mass at the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy on Sunday.

A pontifical coronation is a pious institutional act, wherein the Pope, through a bull, designates a crown or stellar halo to be added to a Marian image under a specific devotional title in a particular area or diocese.

No date has been set yet for the canonical coronation of the Marian image.

Also, the Mass celebrated the granting of “spiritual bond of affinity” between the parish and the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

The privilege means that all indulgences granted in the basilica will be gained in the diocesan shrine.

In a Facebook post, the parish said they receive the Spiritual Bond of Affinity document with Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome last month.

“With gratitude and joy, we are now on the Pontifical Coronation of Our Lady of Mercy,” it added.

Last January, Novaliches Bishop Robert Gaa declared Our Lady of Mercy as the second patroness of the 18-year-old diocese.

The parish will celebrate its 165th anniversary on Sept. 24, the feast day of the Our Lady of Mercy. (PNA)