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Utah's Tibetan community fully understood and accepted the health reasons that prompted the Dalai Lama to cancel his scheduled appearance last October in the Beehive State.

But the Tibetans were thrilled to learn Friday that the Nobel Peace Prize winner now plans a return trip this summer to speak at the University of Utah.

"We are so excited," Pema Chagzoetsang, board member of the Utah Tibet Foundation, said Friday. "When we heard the news, it was like 'wow.' "

U. President David W. Pershing made the announcement, noting that the exiled leader of Tibet's international Buddhist community is scheduled to speak June 21 at 1:30 p.m.

"It is a great honor and pleasure to welcome the Dalai Lama back to the University of Utah," Pershing said in a news release. "His health and well-being are of utmost concern, and we are happy he is doing well and we will have the opportunity to hear from him."

The 80-year-old, 14th Dalai Lama had scrapped his earlier visit, which included a campus speech as well as a planned keynote at the Parliament of the World's Religions, after a medical evaluation and need for prostate-related treatment at the Mayo Clinic. At the time, he returned to India to recuperate.

"It was important for his wellbeing," Chagzoetsang said, "We were grateful that he took the time off to take care of himself. He needed the time to reset and recuperate. Now he is in very sound health."

The popular leader "is so important to me, to Tibetans and to the world," she said. "We have all been so selfish in wanting a part of him. He was overwhelmed."

His time in Utah will be short – arriving June 20 and leaving two days later — and will include the public event, a couple of private meetings and an address before the state's 260 or so members of the Tibetan community

"He is a gift," Chagzoetsang said, "to the entire Utah population."

The Dalai Lama's topics during the U. visit will be compassion and universal responsibility. A question-and-answer session will follow. He previously visited Utah in 2001.

A limited number of tickets will go on sale for U. students, faculty and staff April 1 at 10 a.m. Tickets for the general public will be available April 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at utahtickets.com or the Rice-Eccles Stadium ticket office, 801-581-8849.

Before his U. appearance, an 11 a.m. cultural program will be presented by the Utah Tibetan Association, also at the Huntsman Center. All proceeds from the event will go to the Utah Tibetan Association to benefit the Tibetan Community Center.

No firearms or other weapons will be permitted at the venue during the Dalai Lama's visit, school officials said. Visitors will be required to pass through metal detectors and have their bags checked before entering the seating area.

Tribune reporter Peggy Fletcher Stack contributed to this story.