The University of Santo Tomas has put on display memorabilia from Pope Francis’s visit to the school on January 18, 2015.
During his five-day stay in the Philippines in January 2015, Francis paid a visit to the only pontifical university in Asia, where he met with students and religious leaders.
On display in the UST Main Building lobby are items used during the visit: a Papal chair; the guestbook, in which he wrote, “May the Lord bless all those studying and working for a culture of encounter”; the pen he used; and the UST ID and lanyard he wore.
UST was given the title “pontifical”—of or related to the Pontiff—by Pope Leo XIII in September 1902, only the second university in the world granted the designation. Pope Francis’s UST ID identified him as “Administration.” He was the third pontiff to visit UST, after Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1981 and 1995.
Father Isidro Abaño, director of the UST Museum and parish priest of the UST Chapel, said the memorabilia will be displayed until the Pope is laid to rest, and is open to the public.
UST’s landmarks will also be lit in violet until April 26, the day of the Pope’s funeral.
Pope Francis passed away on Monday at the age of 88, after a long stay in hospital where he was treated for double pneumonia. He was head of the Catholic Church for 12 years. — BM, GMA Integrated News
