UST invites Pope for its 400th anniversary rites in 2011

MANILA, Philippines - The University of Santo Tomas has invited Pope Benedict XVI to grace its 400th anniversary celebration in 2011, a statement posted on the website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Friday. The statement said the invitation to the Pope was extended by UST rector Rolando dela Rosa. "We are hopeful that the Holy Father will visit the Philippines and UST in three years' time from now," Dela Rosa said. He said Benedict XVI will "most likely" visit the UST, which he said is a Pontifical University under the direct authority of the Vatican. The university holds three distinct titles, including "Royal" granted by King Charles III of Spain in 1785; "Pontifical" bestowed by Pope Leo XIII in 1902; and "The Catholic University of the Philippines" conferred by Pope Pius XII in 1947. "Every time a Pope visits the Philippines, he visits UST," Dela Rosa said, referring to Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. Paul VI was the first pope to set foot on Philippine soil in November 1970. Barely had he set foot on Philippine soil when he survived an assassination attempt by a Bolivian painter. He visited UST on the second day of his visit, where he urged some 400,000 students and youth to "strike a balanced harmony of constructive criticism and generous self-giving." The late Pope John Paul II's first visit to UST was in 1981 when he beatified Filipino martyr Lorenzo Ruiz and 16 companions. John Paul II's second visit to UST was during the World Youth Day in 1995. UST, now in its 397th year, is the oldest existing university in Asia and in terms of student population, the largest Catholic university in the world located in one campus. Last May, CBCP president Angel Lagdameo and Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said they sent a formal letter in July last year inviting the Pope to the country. "The reply was categorically 'No' for the time being due to many schedules that have been filled up," Lagdameo said. Also in May, militant farmers urged the CBCP to invite the Pontiff that he may "know the real situation of human rights in the country." - GMANews.TV