Vatican issues stamp to commemorate relations with the United States

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the United States of America, the Governorate of Vatican City State will issue a special postage stamp.

The initiative, which will be presented at the Holy See Press Office next week by Cardinal Fernandez Vérguez, is in charge of the Postal and Philatelic Service of the Vatican’s Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems.

Laura Hochla, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America to the Holy See, will also participate in the presentation, scheduled for September 16.

Also present will be Sister Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Government, and the engineer Antonino Intersimone, Director of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, as well as the new Head of the Postal and Philatelic Service, Felice Bruno.

The seal represents the coats of arms of the Holy See and the United States, mixed in turn by ribbons that evoke their respective flags.

Likewise, the seal will bear the inscription: “40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the United States of America”, “Poste Vaticane” and “on the day of release 16.09.2024”.

It should be noted that the relations between both states have been complex and have evolved over the years.

The 19th century was marked by great distrust on the part of the United States, with a Protestant majority at that time and with a marked differentiation between Church and State.

Diplomatic relations were formally established in 1984, with Ronald Reagan as president.