Papal chair may be placed in UST museum

MANILA, Philippines - The papal chair, guestbook, pen and other things that Pope Francis used during his visit in University of Santo Tomas last Sunday will likely be added to the collection of the UST Museum.

UST public affairs committee director Giovanna Fontanilla yesterday said that while she is not yet certain if the things used by Pope Francis would be placed in the museum, the papal thrones and other items used by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II during their visits in the campus were added to the museum’s collection.

“The papal chair is not only a wonderful addition to the collection of the UST Museum but a memento of the grace-filled visit of Pope Francis to UST, and the love of the university for the Holy Father,” she added.

Pope Francis visited UST for an encounter with youth and leaders of other religions.

Shortly after entering the campus last Sunday morning, Pope Francis spent a minute writing this short message in the UST guestbook: “May the Lord bless those studying and working for a culture of encounter. Manila, the 18 January 2015.”

Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, head of the papal visit committee on information and media relations, believed that the pontiff wants the students, faculty and staff of UST to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ by reaching out to those who have been neglected in society.

The Holy Father might have given the reminder because the people tend to be indifferent sometimes.

“I think that is really the message, ‘culture of encounter.’ He said we should always try to have a personal encounter with Christ, that we should let us build a life experience encountering Christ and be Christ in every person,” Vergara explained.

“Christ refers to everyone. We reach out to those who have been neglected in society such as the poor. An encounter with Christ, it can be an event, it could be an encounter with people. It is an experience,” he added.