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During 2011, the Holy Father's Apostolic Journeys included Croatia, San Marino, Spain, Germany, and Benin. €0,60 - Benedict XVI's visit to Zagreb, Croatia, 4-5 June, coincided with the National Day of Croatian Catholic Families. On 4 June he met political and religious representatives as well as business leaders and the diplomatic corps. He then celebrated a prayer vigil with Croatian youth in Ban Jelačić Square. On 5 June Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass on the occasion of the National Day of Croatian Families at the Zagreb Hippodrome, followed by recitation of the Regina Coeli. €0,75 - On 19 June, the Holy Father conducted a pastoral visit to the Republic of San Marino. He participated in Mass followed by recitation of the Angelus at the Olympic Stadium of Serravalle. He later met with governmental and religious leaders as well as the diplomatic corps and concluded his visit with a meeting with young people of the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro. €1,40 - Pope Benedict XVI conducted an Apostolic Journey to Madrid, Spain 18-21 August in conjunction with 26th World Youth Day. In his address to Youth Day participants, he cited insecurity and "the mentality of relativism" as leading not to freedom but instability. He emphasized the theme of the gathering, "Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith" (cf. Col 2:7). €1,60 - The Holy Father traveled to Germany 22-25 September, visiting Berlin, Erfurt, Etzelsbach, and Freiburg im Breisgau. In his address to the German Reichstag, he discussed the concept of law and justice in the modern world and stated in part: "At this point Europe's cultural heritage ought to come to our assistance. The conviction that there is a Creator God is what gave rise to the idea of human rights, the idea of the equality of all people before the law, the recognition of the inviolability of human dignity in every single person and the awareness of people's responsibility for their actions. Our cultural memory is shaped by these rational insights...". €2,00 - Pope Benedict's final journey of 2011 was to Cotonou, Benin 18-20 November in conjunction with the publication of conclusions reached at the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops (2009) and its theme of "reconciliation, justice, and peace." Although Porto Novo is the official Benin capital, Benedict's visit was associated with various events in Cotonou, the economic capital, where he met with political and religious leaders, religious, seminarians, and children. In his Exhortation delivering the Special Assembly's publication, Pope Benedict concluded, "Dear Church in Africa, become ever more fully the salt of the earth - this earth which Jesus Christ blessed with his presence when he took refuge here! ..." Artist Daniela Longo designed these stamps. Each design depicts the Holy Father, words from his addresses during the visits. and a design associated with the country visited. The face value of the stamps is €0,60, €0,75, €1,40, €1.60, and €2,00, each noted by the country visited. They were issued in sheets of ten stamps. Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 1508 - 1512 Date Issued - 06 November 2012 Face Value - €0,60, €0,75, €1,40, €1.25, €1.25, €1,60, €2,00 Perforations - 13x13 Printing Process - Offset Printer - BDT (Ireland) Max Printed - 150,000 |
| (Source - Vatican Notes: Volume: 61 Issue: 355 Page: 4-6) |
