LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — The Diocese of Legazpi celebrated the pontifical coronation of the image of Nuestra Señora de Salvación on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as the local Church marked the 75th anniversary of its canonical establishment.
More than 6,000 faithful and hundreds of priests gathered at Saint Gregory the Great Cathedral in Legazpi City for the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, dean of the College of Cardinals.
Pope Leo XIV authorized the pontifical coronation following a petition by Bishop Joel Z. Baylon and devotees in Albay. The papal decree was formally proclaimed by Fr. Gem Norries Penetrante, diocesan chancellor, in Latin, English, and Bicolano.
In his homily, Cardinal Tagle reflected on the diocese’s 75-year journey of faith, highlighting the contributions of missionaries, clergy, religious, families, teachers, catechists, and ordinary people who have helped spread the Gospel across generations.
He also encouraged the faithful to turn to Our Lady of Salvación whenever they feel distant from Jesus, emphasizing Mary’s role in leading believers closer to her Son.
Bishop Baylon, meanwhile, called on the faithful to keep their hearts burning with faith and remain passionate in sharing the good news of salvation.
Clarification on the 1976 Coronation
The diocese clarified that the image’s coronation in 1976, officiated by then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, was a diocesan coronation, not a pontifical one. The Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments subsequently granted the pontifical coronation through a decree identified as Prot. N. 679/26.
Nuestra Señora de Salvación was recognized as patroness of the Diocese of Legazpi in 1977, a separate ecclesiastical act.
The Marian image’s shrine in Joroan, Tiwi, Albay, continues to serve as a pilgrimage destination for devotees who seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The historic celebration marks a significant milestone in the spiritual life of the Diocese of Legazpi, honoring its decades of faith, devotion, and missionary service.
