Book on Pope Francis’ visit to UST launched

Text and photos by SANDRA AGUINALDO, GMA News June 17, 2015 6:29pm

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Wednesday launched a coffee table book about Pope Francis' historic visit to the school last January 18.

The 160-page "Pope Francis @ UST" features photos showing the pope arriving at the university, his motorcade around the campus and his encounter with the youth from all over the country.

Most of the photos were contributed by professional Thomasian photographers and students of the university.

“They will see in the book a shepherd who is excited and happy to be near his sheep,” UST Rector Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P. said.

The photos, he added, will bring back happy memories of meeting the Pope.

“There was this unexplainable excitement… para bang matagal na niyang kilala yung mga sumalubong sa kanya. Tawag ng Santo Papa sa amin ‘los dominicos’. That cordiality, the feeling of being at home with him is a totally different thing.”

UST, the oldest existing university in Asia, was given the status of a “royal university” in 1785 by King Charles III. In 1902, Pope Leo XIII gave it the title “pontifical university.”

The university has been visited four times by Popes—first by Blessed Paul VI in 1970 and again by Saint John Paul II in 1981 and 1995.

Glyzelle Palomar, the former street child who bust into tears while asking Pope Francis a question, received her own copy of the book from UST.

It would be remembered that Palomar could not contain her tears while asking the Pope why God allow children to suffer, a question that, according to Pope Francis, has no answer.

“Why do children suffer so much? Why do children suffer? When the heart is able to ask itself and weep, then we can understand something…This is the first thing I want to say: let us learn how to weep as she has shown us today and let us not forget this lesson,” said the Pope.

Clutching her copy of the book, Glyzelle said her encounter with the highest leader of the Catholic Church is still fresh on her mind.

“Parang nakikita pa rin po siya, nag-i-imagine po ako na nandyan po siya…Minsan po may gulo sa bahay nadadamay po ako. Minsan po kasalanan ko po, tinatanggap ko naman na kasalanan ko po tapos po minsan po napapaiyak po ako, naaalala ko po yung message ko kay Pope,” she said.

UST said it has printed one thousand copies, which will be given to people and organizations who helped organize the event.

Pope Francis’ copy of the book has been given to the Apostolic Nunciature. Members of the media who covered the event also received copies. GMA Network’s copy was received by anchor Mike Enriquez.

UST said it is still studying the possibility of making the book available in bookstores. — BM, GMA News

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