Youth sleepless outside pope's favored Philippine university

MANILA, Philippines - The crowd started to build up outside the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Saturday night for Pope Francis' youth encounter on Sunday morning.

Winnie Mirasol's group of young people from the diocese of Caloocan started queuing into the university at 11 p.m. Saturday.

"Wala na pong tulog. Tiis lang talaga," he told Philstar.com at 3:30 a.m. Sunday outside the gates of the University.

Around their heads are yellow handkerchiefs bearing the papal visit's  motto of "mercy and compassion."

Eager to see the pope, students, alumni and outsiders occupied roads around the 404-year-old university visited by two Roman Pontiffs in its current location.

Popes visiting the Philippines traditionally include an audience inside the Dominican-run university, honored with the title "pontifical" by Pope Leo XIII in 1902.

Significant university decisions such as the construction of major buildings are consulted by the Vatican, which also installs the school's head, called the rector.

High school student Enzo Trinidad, 16, came all the way from Rizal province last night with his brother and spent the night near the university.

"Gusto ko rin siya makita for the experience kasi minsan lang siya dumating dito [sa Pilipinas]," he said.

To spend more time with the pope, Trinidad said he even heard late Mass on Saturday in anticipation of the Sunday obligation.

Around him are young people without sleep and minimal provisions to survive the long day but buzzing with energy while waiting for the university gates to open.