Now may be the time to reflect on what happened during the visit of Pope Francis, said Fr. Isidro Abaño, OP, director of University of Santo Tomas (UST) Museum of Arts and Sciences.
UST, of course, was part of the momentous occasion. Last Jan. 18, the Pope visited the campus, the fourth such visit by a pope of UST.
To aid people’s reflection of the important event, UST has mounted the exhibit, “@UST: Lolo Kiko Brings Christ to the Youth,” a documentary exhibit of the visit.
Exhibit runs until March 28.
The exhibit displays a variety of memorabilia—from the chair made especially for the papal visit, to the table and podium used specifically for the Pope’s encounter with the youth on campus, to handwritten messages from students to the Pope. A series of photographs taken mostly by campus and alumni photographers documents colorfully the visit.
“Everyone should have a good memory of it. The students and those who will see the exhibit will have a deeper reflection on what happened,” Father Abaño said.
Also featured are the university guestbook signed by the Pope, the lanyard and UST identification card that named Pope Francis an “honorary Thomasian,” and Philippine publications, including those from the regions and in regional languages, that featured the Pope on their cover in time for his visit.
Photographs contributed by the Varsitarian, the official university-wide student organ, and Petron Art Awards Hall of Fame member Paul Quiambao are also presented.
There is also a showcase of souvenir items such as T-shirts, calendars, wall clocks, Pope Francis dolls and commemorative stamps.
The Apostolic Nunciature, meanwhile, donated the Philippine and Vatican flags used for the exhibit.
Father Abaño said most of the relics belong to the museum and will be kept there along with previous papal-visit memorabilia.
“As keeper of the university’s heritage, [the museum] will also keep the papal visit’s spirit alive,” Father Abaño said.
UST, established in 1611 by the great Dominican missionary order, is the oldest university in the Far East and is only the second in the world to be named a Pontifical University, even ahead of European universities.