1st December 2022: Pope Francis, Vatican

Thank You very much Davide!

Cover and Postcard from the Veronafil Stamp Exhibition

On Saturday I got a cover from Italy.

Stamp:

EUROPA (from set of two) (issued 09-05-2018)

with a special postmark of the Veronafil Stamp Exhibition

Inside was a postcard of Pope Francis with a great stamp set from the Vatican and a special postmark of the Poste Vaticane for the Veronafil. The stamp set is about the European Year of Cultural Heritage and was issued on 3rd May 2018.

Thank You very much Davide!

Vatican: Christmas

On Tuesday I got two postcards: one from the Vatican and one from Germany.

The card from the Vatican shows a big Nativity Scene and Christmas Tree at Saint Peter's Square.

With a nice stamp:
500 years Reformation (issued 23-11-2017)

Thank You very much Raluca!

Vatican: Saint Peter's Baldachin

Yesterday I got three postcards from the Vatican.

One of them shows the Saint Peter's Baldachin. The Saint Peter's Baldachin was created between 1623 and 1634. It is located above of Saint Peter's tomb.

Stamp:
Pope Francis (from set of four) (issued 19-02-2015)

Thank You very much William!

Vatican: Saint Peter's Basilica

Yesterday I got three postcards from the Vatican.

One of them shows the exterior and interior of the Saint Peter's Basilica.

Stamps:
Cattedrale di Santa Maria di Nardò (from set of five) (issued 07-11-2013)
Pope Francis (from set of four) (issued 19-02-2015)

Thank You very much William!

Vatican: Saint Peter's Square and the Saint Peter's Basilica

Yesterday I got three postcards from the Vatican.

One of them shows the Saint Peter's Square and the Saint Peter's Basilica.

Stamps:
EUROPA (whole set) (issued 19-05-2015)

Thank You very much William!

Vatican: Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, the St. Peter's Basilica and Sant'Agnese in Agone

Today I got six postcards: one from the Vatican, one from Canada, one from Australia, two from Germany and one from Belgium.

The card from the Vatican shows Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, the St. Peter's Basilica and Sant'Agnese in Agone in Rome.

With a great stamp:
25th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall (issued 28-08-2014)

Thank You very much Angela!

Vatican: Saint Peter's Square

Today I got seven postcards: two from the Vatican, my first three cards from Monaco and two from Italy.

One of the cards from the Vatican shows the Saint Peter's Square, Pope Benedict XVI and Michelangelo's Pietà.

Stamps:
EUROPA (whole set) (issued 20-05-2014)

Thank You very much William!

Vatican: Aerial View

Today I got seven postcards: two from the Vatican, my first three cards from Monaco and two from Italy.

One of the cards from the Vatican shows the Vatican from above.

With nice stamps:
Canonisation of Pope John Paul II (issued 21-03-2014)
It is a joint issue with Poland.
The civic name of Pope John Paul II is Karol Józef Wojtyła. He was born in Wadowice, Poland, on 18th May 1920. He became the pope on the 16th October 1978 after Pope John Paul I died. He was the first Slavic pope. He died on 2nd April 2005 and his follower became Benedict XVI. He was canonised in 2014. 
50th death anniversary of Pope John XXIII (issued 12-06-2013)
The civic name of Pope John XXIII is Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli. He was born in Sotto il Monte, Italy, on 25th November 1881. He became the pope on the 28th October 1958 after Pope Pius XII died. In 1962 he opened the Second Vatican Council. He died on 3rd June 1963 and his follower became Paul VI. He was canonised in 2014.

Thank You very much William!

Vatican: Pope Francis with a white pigeon

Today I got three postcards: one from the Vatican, one from Malaysia and one from Germany.

The card from the Vatican shows Pope Francis with a white pigeon. The photo was taken last year at Pentecost when somebody from the crowd thrown a white cage with two pigeons inside upon the pope. His life guard present him with the cage and he opened it immediately. He take out the pigeons and let them fly over the Saint Peter's Square. 

Stamp:

Gli ori del museo etrusco (from set of four) (issued 22-11-2001)

Thank You very much Henk!

Vatican: Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

Yesterday I got many postcards and many of them were from new countries.

Some of them were my first postcards from the Vatican. I sent all this postcards to me when I visited Rome last week.

One postcard shows the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. In 1823 the Basilica was nearly totally destroyed, but was rebuilt. Since 1980 the Basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stamp:
700 Years of devotion to Our Lady of Europe (issued 10-02-2009)
(It is a joint issue with Gibraltar)

Vatican: Castel Sant'Angelo

Yesterday I got many postcards and many of them were from new countries.

Some of them were my first postcards from the Vatican. I sent all this postcards to me when I visited Rome last week.

One postcard shows the Castel Sant'Angelo. The Castel Sant'Angelo was built on the mausoleum of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Since 1281 there is a roofed corridor connecting the castle with the Vatican. In front of the castle is the Ponte Sant'Angelo directing to the city centre. Only pedestrians are allowed to go over the bridge. The Castel Sant'Angelo is a part of the Historic Centre of Rome which is since 1980 a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stamp:
700 Years of devotion to Our Lady of Europe (issued 10-02-2009)
(It is a joint issue with Gibraltar)

Vatican: Pope Francis

Yesterday I got many postcards and many of them were from new countries.

Some of them were my first postcards from the Vatican. I sent all this postcards to me when I visited Rome last week.

One card shows Pope Francis. The civic name of Pope Francis is Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17th December 1936. He is the pope since the 13rd March 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI had abdicated (the first abdication since 1294!). He is the first pope from South America.

Stamp:
700 Years of devotion to Our Lady of Europe (issued 10-02-2009)
(It is a joint issue with Gibraltar)

Vatican: Saint Peter's Basilica

Yesterday I got many postcards and many of them were from new countries.

Some of them were my first postcards from the Vatican. I sent all this postcards to me when I visited Rome last week.

The Vatican City State is a enclave in Rome and the smallest accepted state of the world (44 ha). The Head of State is the Pope, so at the moment Pope Francis. The Vatican City State arose from the Papal States and was founded in 1929 per the Lateran Treaty closed between Pope and Benito Mussolini.

One card shows the Saint Peter's Basilica. The Saint Peter's Basilica is 211m long, 186m wide, 132m high and in the basilica is enough space for 600,000 people. In 1506 Pope Julius II charged Donato Bramante with the construction of a new basilica on the place were Constantin built an old basilica on the grave of Saint Peter. Until the finishing 120 years passed and during this time many different popes brought forward their own ideas and so the best builder of Italy were involved to build the basilica. The Saint Peter's Basilica is as part of the Vatican City since 1984 a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today there is the possibility to go nearly on the top of cupola and if you are there you have a great view on Rome.

Stamp:
700 Years of devotion to Our Lady of Europe (issued 10-02-2009)
(It is a joint issue with Gibraltar)