A college student, an out-of-school youth and a Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) relief volunteer will have a chance to share their testimonies with Pope Francis during his scheduled interaction with the Filipino youth at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila on January 18.
Associate Prof. Giovanna Fontanilla, UST’s director of the Office of Public Affairs, said some 24,000 young Filipinos are expected to meet the pope at the UST open field on January 18, when representatives of the Archdiocesan Commissions on the Youth, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on the Youth, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines and member-schools of the Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines, as well as participants in the Second Philippine Conference on New Evangelization will occupy the UST football field and grandstand. She said the event is open to the public and no ticket will be distributed for the gathering
“The event is open to the public…. We would like to provide them with that wonderful opportunity of seeing him [Pope Francis],” she reiterated during a media briefing for the papal visit. She said that as early as 6 a.m., the pre-program activities will start.
Around 10:30 a.m the program proper will start, wherein Pope Francis will give his message to the youth, followed by prayers and intercessions to be given by seven youth delegates speaking in different Philippine dialects.