Pontificio Collegio Filippino

Pontificio Collegio Filippino is the college of Filipino diocesan priests studying at pontifical universities in Rome, Italy. It was formally established as an institution with pontifical rights by Pope Blessed John XXIII on June 29, 1961 through the Papal Bull "Sancta Mater Ecclesia". Also known as "Pontificio Collegio Seminario Filippino", the college is officially named by the papal bull as "Pontificio Collegio Seminario de Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje".

The seat of the institution is located at 490 Via Aurelia in the suburb of Rome where a four-story structure designed by Edoardo Cherubini and done in the contemporary architectural design of the 1960s stands on a convert|238933.44|m2|sqyd property between the Collegio Pio Brasiliano and the Villa Pacelli. Rufino Cardinal Santos proposed establishing the college during the meeting of the Catholic Hierarchy of the Philippines on 26–31 January 1959. His plan was supported by the Philippine ecclessiatical hierarchy and approved by the Vatican. [On August 8, 1959, Pope John XXIII personally blessed the cornerstone for the building of Pontificio Collegio Filippino in the private study of his summer residence at Castelgandolfo. Cardinal Rufino Santos- the Cardinal Archbishop of Manila, and Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See, José Ma. Delgado witnessed the significant event. The following day, Cardinal Pizzardo laid the cornestone on the site of the edifice in the presence of 70 Cardinals (Mimmi, Agagianian, Ciriaci), Diplomats, Superiors general, seminary and university Rectors and other distinguished personalities.A document deposited in the cornerstone testifies that "His Eminence, Giuseppe Cardinal Pizzardo, suburban Bishop of Albano and prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Seminaries and Universities, solemnly laid the cornerstone of the new College-Seminary, dedicated to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, destined to welcome the Filipino young men who, endowed with science and strong faith, under the shadows of Peter and the tombs of the Martyrs, will one day go back to their country to diffuse this treasury of faith to those under their care."Cf. http://www.rc.net/rome/pcf/]

Pope John XXIII blessed and inaugurated the modern edifice on October 7, 1961 at the Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. [Pope John XXIII spoke of the mission of Pontificio Collegio Filippino during the inaguration saying: "This Pontifical Seminary therefore is both a Roman and Philippine College; for here, that is, near the Chair of Peter and the summit of the Church, your young ones divinely called to take on sacred functions, will draw faith and science from the genuine and rich font. Fully imbued with this they shall return to their people as beloved heralds of truth. That is why these buildings destined for the formation of your students of sacred sciences will be like channels by which the catholic life will be promoted among you and the bond by which the Philippines, a Nation so very dear to us, will more intensely be linked with the supreme magisterium of the Church." Cf. Ibid.]

As of the year 2001, Pontificio Collegio Filippino has been a home to 522 seminarians and priests, 38 of whom have become bishops.

Links

* [http://www.rc.net/rome/pcf/ Pontificio Collegio Filippino official website]

References