Vatican: Pope Can't Make it to UST's Quadricentennial

MANILA, May 13, 2010-The Supreme Pontiff is not attending the 400th
founding anniversary of the Philippines' only Pontifical and Royal University.

The Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, has informed the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines that His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, cannot attend the grand quadricentennial anniversary celebration of the University of Santo Tomas that will culminate next year.

In his May 7, 2010 letter to CBCP president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, Adams said the Holy Father cannot come to Manila to attend UST's historic event. The Apostolic Nuncio's letter however failed to disclose the reason for the Pope's announcement.

"The Holy Father will not be coming to Manila for the anniversary, but given the importance of the quadricentennial celebrations of the university, His Holiness will be sending for the occasion his special envoy, whose name will be published in L'osservatore Romano the afternoon of Saturday, 27 November 2010," Adams said.

As of press time, UST officials declined to comment on Adam's announcement, saying Fr. Rolando dela Rosa, who is currently out of town, should be the one to officially comment on the issue being the university's rector.

It was the third time that Pope Benedict XVI is expected to visit the Philippines since his installation to the Papacy in 2006. The Holy Father was invited to grace the Asian Youth Day held in Cavite last November and the 2nd National Congress of the Clergy held at Pasay City last January.

Founded on April 28, 1611, UST holds the distinction of being the
oldest existing university in the Philippines and in Asia. Being under the authority of the Holy See as a pontifical university, UST has been visited by Pope Paul VI on Nov. 28, 1970 and by Pope John Paul II on Feb. 18, 1981 and January 13, 1995. (Kris Bayos)