Second Marian image crowned in Pangasinan

CROWNING Most Rev. Gabriele Giordano Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, leads the canonical coronation of the image of Mary Help of Christians in Dagupan City. —WILLIE LOMIBAO

DAGUPAN CITY—The image of Mary Help of Christians was canonically crowned on Wednesday by Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, the apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, in recognition of its role in expanding Catholicism in Pangasinan province.

Caccia led the canonical coronation during Mass at the St. John the Evangelist Metropolitan Cathedral here.

The coronation was authorized by Pope Francis through a decree issued on March 23. The decree gave the archdiocese the “unique honor” of having two images canonically crowned, said Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

The first canonically crowned image was Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, which was crowned on April 22, 1926. —GABRIEL CARDINOZA