2017-01-20 15:52:00

A 38-meter statue of the Divine Mercy, the tallest so far of Christ depicted this way, was inaugurated on Thursday in the town of Marilao, 24 kilometers north of the Philippine capital Manila. 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 Jan. 19 inauguration of the image was one of the highlights of the "pilgrimage of mercy" duing the 4th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM4), Jan. 16-20, in Manila. 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 of Minna and Philippine Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos led the inauguration of the image after a Mass attended by delegates to the global gathering of promoters and devotees of Divine Mercy devotion. The first World Apostolic Congress on Mercy was held for the first time in Rome in 2008, on the third death anniversary of St. Pope John Paul II. Since then it has been held every 3 years. (Source: UCAN)