Palo Cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lord's Transfiguration, also known as Palo Metropolitan Cathedral or simply Palo Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church located at Palo, Leyte in the Philippines belonging to the Vicariate of Palo under the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Palo.

Palo Cathedral
The facade of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lord's Transfiguration
LocationPalo, Leyte
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
Founded1596
DedicationTransfiguration of Jesus[1]
Administration
DioceseMetropolitan Archdiocese of Palo
Clergy
Bishop(s)Most Rev. John Forrosuelo Du, DD

History

In 1596, the Jesuits established the church and became their residence for some time. It was later on administered by the Augustinians in 1768 and then by the Franciscans in 1843.[2][3] The church was repaired in 1850 by the supervision Fr. Agustin de Consuegra who also oversaw the construction of the two towers of the church.[2] On March 25, 1938, the church was declared a cathedral and Msgr. Manuel Mascariñas became its first bishop. [2] During the Second World War, the American liberation forces used the church as a hospital.[2]

Pope Francis' visit to Palo Cathedral in 2015

In November 2013, the cathedral was damaged by Typhoon Haiyan.[4] After Haiyan’s havoc, a memorial service for the typhoon’s casualties was held in the cathedral. Bodies were buried in the cathedral’s grave site. On Christmas eve, Pope Francis sent his Apostolic Nuncio to the country, Giuseppe Pinto, to lead a Mass at the roofless cathedral and to inspect the damage on churches in Eastern Visayas.[5] After the church's rehabilitation, Pope Francis briefly visited the cathedral in January 2015, brought about by impending Tropical Storm Mekkhala.[2] In 2015, it was declared as one of the pilgrim churches of the archdiocese by Archbishop John F. Du.[6][7]

  • Altar inside the Cathedral
  • Seating inside the Cathedral
  • Side view of the Cathedral's exterior
  • Mass graves of victims of Typhoon Haiyan within the Cathedral grounds

References
  1. Mayol, Ador Vincent (15 January 2015). "'Event of the century' for Palo Cathedral". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  2. Olan, Sarah Jayne (12 January 2015). "FAST FACTS: Palo Cathedral, Leyte". Rappler. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  3. Lagarde, Roy. "Palo Cathedral after Yolanda". CBCP News. Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  4. "Up close with death and destruction as Yolanda ravages Leyte". GMA News. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  5. "Palo Cathedral, Leyte". Rappler. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  6. Aquino, Leslie Ann (19 December 2015). "'Yolanda'-damaged churches declared pilgrimage sites". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  7. Macairan, Evelyn (20 December 2015). "Leyte names new pilgrim churches". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
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