First Prisoner of War Relief Set

Prisoner of War Welfare Set, 1942 (Scott 77-79) On September 1, 1942, Vatican City issued the first of what would be three stamp sets to publicize its relief efforts for prisoners of war during World War II. This set has been given a variety of titles, including the 'Prisoner of War' series, the 'Welfare' series and the 'Prisoner of War Relief Fund' series. The Acta Apolistolicae Sedis announcing the release of the stamps describes them as supporting the Supreme Pontiff's works of charity during the present war. The 1942 set, shown above, features stamps designed by Giuseppe Rondini and bearing the identical image of a passionate Jesus Christ looking down on a gathering of war victims. Above Christ's image is the banner 'Flagrante Bello Misereor Svper Tvrbam' ('I Have Compassion on the Multitudes'). The stamps are colored blue-green (25 cent), chestnut-brown (80 cent) and blue (1.25 lira). At the bottom center of the frame are the three stacked lines Poste, Vaticane and MCMXLII (1942). Given the Vatican's precarious situation during World War II (being a neutral state surrounded by the Axis power Italy), the work done by the Vatican in support of prisoners of war is quite remarkable. Through the Ufficio Informazioni Vaticane (the UIV or Vatican Information Bureau), attempts were made to connect loved ones with war prisoners on both sides. Following the surrender of Italy to the Allies in September, 1943, the Germans immediately occupied Rome. The Vatican secretly extended its efforts to protect Allied POW's from the Germans in and around Rome. And the efforts of Msgr. Hugh O'Flaherty to hide POW's as well as liberated Jews led to the saving of an estimated 6500 lives as the war dragged on. The efforts of the Vatican to provide aid and comfort to a suffering humanity during and after World War II cannot be forgotten. An extended article on the Prisoner of War series and the Vatican's efforts in war relief was presented by Thomas Crimando in 1983, and that article served as a primary reference for today's e-mail. It can be accessed using the link below. A review of all three Prisoner of War sets will be presented in tomorrow's Daily Email. REFERENCES: Thomas Crimando, Vatican Notes, Volume 32, Number 3, 1987, pp. 5-7 The Vatican and Prisoners of War Smithsonian National Postal Museum, 1.25 lire Picture of Jesus Christ single Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 77-79 Date Issued - 01 September 1942 Face Value - €1.25 Perforations - 14 Printer - The Italian Government Printing Works