Tallest Divine Mercy statue unveiled in Philippines

Jan 21, 2017

MANILA: A 38-meter statue of the Divine Mercy, the tallest such one depicting Christ this way, was inaugurated in the town of Marilao, 24 kilometers north of Manila, on Jan. 19.

The image stands on top a four-storey building inside a shrine, which is a popular destination for pilgrims and devotees of the Divine Mercy.

Father Prospero Tenorio, director of the shrine said the project was conceived for devotees "to feel God's mercy by reminding them to live the spirituality of the Divine Mercy."

The inauguration of the image was one of the highlights of the "pilgrimage of mercy" during the fourth day of the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy that is being held in the Philippines this week.

Father Tenorio said the building of the statue aims to perpetuate the memory of the global event that was held in Asia for the first time.

Nigerian Bishop Martin Uzoukwu and Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos led the inauguration of the image after a Mass attended by delegates to the global gathering of Divine Mercy devotees. 

Introduced by the Vatican in 2008, the first ever World Apostolic Congress on Mercy was held in Rome at the time of the third death anniversary of St. Pope John Paul II. 

The gathering has since become an annual event.--ucanews.com