Why Pope Francis wore an ID at UST event

By ROSE-AN JESSICA DIOQUINO,GMA News January 18, 2015 6:22pm

He may be the head of the Roman Catholic Church, but Pope Francis curiously still wore an identification card for an event at University of Santo Tomas on Sunday morning for his Encounter with the Youth event.

The ID was one of the special tokens the pontiff received. It bore the words "His Holiness Pope Francis", as well as his given name, Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

His ID number is 16112015-001, a few digits longer than the usual given to students, faculty, and staff. It reflects both the university's founding year (1611) and the year of his visit there (2015).

He was aptly given a role in "Administration," as UST is the lone pontifical university in Asia.

Post by University of Santo Tomas.

A title granted to UST by Pope Leo XIII in 1902, pontifical means "it's an institution of higher learning established or approved by the Holy Father, so there is a close link between him and the university," public affairs director Giovanna Fontanilla told GMA News Online in an interview.

During the event, the Pope wore the ID with a lanyard — like any other member of the UST community would.

For his trip there, the fourth papal visit for the university, Pope Francis walked through the Arch of the Centuries, a landmark where first-year students pass through, a symbol of the beginning of their journey as Thomasians. — JST, GMA News

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