MANILA, Philippines–A University of Santo Tomas (UST) official reiterated that no Mass will be held during Pope Francis’ stop at the pontifical university in Sampaloc district of Manila on January 18.
Associate Professor Giovanna Fontanilla, UST Office of Public Affairs director, set right rumors that the pope will celebrate a Mass in UST.
“We just want to clarify that there is no Mass at the University of Santo Tomas. It’s basically the pope’s encounter with the youth and the meeting with inter-religious leaders,” Fontanilla said in an interview with INQUIRER.net.
“The activity here is open to the public, however, at designated areas because we have really reserved the football field for young people,” Fontanilla added.
Fontanilla clarified that Pope Francis is only scheduled to meet 24,000 representatives from the youth sector and some inter-religious leaders in UST as part of his four-day Philippine visit.
The meeting with religious leaders will take place in front of the 400-year-old institution’s Arch of the Centuries facing España Boulevard.
Following the meeting is the Pope’s encounter with Filipino youth at the UST Grandstand and Open Field.
Pope Francis is expected to arrive on the campus at 10:30 a.m.
While waiting for the much-loved pope, Fontanilla said a pre-program will be held at 6:30 a.m. where participants will pray the rosary, practice religious songs and the “cheers for Pope Francis.”
Three selected young people, a Supertyphoon “Yolanda” relief volunteer, an out-of-school youth and a college student, will also share their stories before the crowd of thousands.
This will be the fourth time for a Pope to visit the university, which was founded by Dominicans in 1611 and declared a “Pontifical University” by the Holy See in 1902 even ahead of European institutions.
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