Postage Stamps Marking the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis Presented in Assisi

Joint Issue with Italy, San Marino, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

On the eve of the anniversary of the death of St. Francis 800 years ago on October 3, 1226, the presentation of the joint postage stamp issue commemorating this important anniversary was held in the town of Assisi.

The participation of the postal administrations of Italy in this joint initiative (in addition to the Vatican Post, Poste Italiane, Poste San Marino, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta), together with the presence of high-ranking institutional representatives, gave the event a sense of shared commitment to the Franciscan message. Eight centuries later, this message continues to resonate deeply within contemporary culture, as emphasized by the various speakers.

Following welcoming remarks by the Guardian of the Sacred Convent, Friar Marco Moroni, the Archbishop-Bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, Archbishop Felice Accrocca, the Mayor of Assisi, Valter Stoppini, the President of the Umbria Region, Stefania Proietti, and the President of the National Committee for the Eighth Centenary of the Death of St. Francis, Davide Rondoni, several speakers took the floor. Introduced by Friar Giulio Cesareo, Director of Communications of the Sacred Convent, who also moderated the proceedings, they included Pietro Di Paolantonio, President of the Italian State Printing Works and Mint, Giovanni Machetti, Head of Philately at Poste Italiane, Giorgio Amodeo, Secretary General of the Common Treasury of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and Marco Gatti, Secretary of State for Finance and Budget, Transport and Energy of the Republic of San Marino.

The concluding addresses were delivered by Sister Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and Fausta Bergamotto, Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy.