MANILA, Philippines — The relic of St. Clare of Assisi has arrived in Manila and will go on a pilgrimage to the different archdioceses and the Poor Clare monasteries all over the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Friday afternoon.

This is the first time in 800 years that the relic is going on pilgrimage outside of Italy.

According to the DFA, the Philippine Embassy to the Holy See, led by Ambassador Mercedes A. Tuason, was able to secure the permission to bring the relic to the Philippines from the Federation of Poor Clares based in Foligno in Italy, which owns the relic, as well as from the ecclesiastical authorities of the city of Foligno and the Vatican, through the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints.

The relic arrived in Manila last February 21 and was brought to Monasterio Order of St. Clare (OSC) in Quezon City, said the DFA