POPE Francis has decreed the St. Gregory the Great Parish Church in Majayjay, Laguna to the status of a minor basilica. 

According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the title was conferred on January 25, 2025, after a petition by the diocese was filed in December 2024. 

Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr. of San Pablo hailed the designation as a “wonderful blessing,” especially as it coincides with the Jubilee Year of Hope.

“This church and parish is a living testimony of faith, hope and love for us. But we need to be mindful also that it is also a continuing reminder of our mission together with the Universal Church to bring the Good News to all,” Maralit said. 

“And we have to continue to be the purveyors of God’s love and mercy to this world in continuation of that mission given and commissioning done to the first disciples of our Lord,” he added. 

Minor basilicas are honored for their rich history, remarkable architecture, and significance as places of worship.

As outlined in the 1989 Vatican document Domus Ecclesiae, these churches are expected to be vibrant hubs of liturgical and pastoral life, serving as models for the solemn and meaningful celebration of sacraments and devotions.

Moreover, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments highlights that minor basilicas maintain a distinct spiritual connection to Rome and the pope.

The church, located in the diocese of San Pablo, is considered as one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the country, with the parish’s history dating back to 1576. It was known to shelter Franciscan missionaries from the illness caused by the area’s cool climate. 

Although it was destroyed and rebuilt in the subsequent years— specifically in 1616, 1649 and 1912— due to various reasons ranging from natural disasters to arson, it is recognized by the National Museum as a National Cultural Treasure of the country.

It remains the largest parish church in Laguna as of today.