A PONTIFICAL coronation was held for the statue of Our Lady of Fatima de Binakayan, more popularly known as "Imang," at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Kawit, Cavite, on Thursday.

The rite was among those personally approved by Pope Francis before his demise.

Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown and Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of the Diocese of Imus led the ceremony.

The pontifical coronation officially includes "Imang" among Philippine Marian images recognized by the Holy See.

"We join the world today not in sorrow, but with profound gratitude for the life of Pope Francis. We undertake this in full fidelity to the Bull of Coronation, which mandates the coronation be held in nomine et auctoritate ipsius Summi Pontificis — in the name and authority of the Supreme Pontiff. In doing so, we honor Pope Francis by celebrating the enduring light of his life and legacy," said Fr. Julius De Sagun, rector of the shrine and parish priest.

The statue of Our Lady of Fatima was brought to the Philippines from Portugal in 1966.

The image was a gift of American couple Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Coneley to then-Manila archbishop Rufino Cardinal Santos.

Santos later entrusted the icon to Bishop Artemio Casas of Imus during the founding of the Fatima Parish in Binakayan.