Home
 150th Anniversary of the Vatican Pharmacy Date Issued: 02/19/2024 Scott #1846 Perforation; 14 x 13 1/4 Face Value: €1.25 Among the stamps issued by Vatican City in the first release of 2024 on February 19, there was a single-stamp issue commemorating the establishment of the Vatican Pharmacy. Upon the capture of Rome in 1870, the Pope sought autonomy for basic services in the Vatican. On March 2, 1874 at the request of Pope Pius IX, the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God (Fatebenefratelli) set up the first pharmacy in Vatican City. The first pharmacist was Brother Eusebio Ludvig Fronmen. According to the church, the temporal powers of the Pope over the Papal states were in dispute up until the Lateran Treaty of 1929. In reality, the church lost control over the Papal States in 1870. The Vatican pharmacy is one of the largest pharmacies in the world. It carries medicines that are even unavailable in Italy. All medicines provided are authorized by the country of origin. The Vatican Pharmacy’s clients are those who work in the Vatican, tourists and others. The Vatican is the world’s smallest state by both area and population, approximately 700 living inside Vatican City and a work force both inside and outside of the Vatican of about 4,800. The Vatican does provide health care services to its residents and employees. The postage stamp celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Vatican Pharmacy was designed by Raul Berzosa. It depicts St. John of God, founder of the Fatebenefratelli, next to both a customer and a pharmacist. The lower center features the logo of the Fatebenefratelli Order and the background shows Saint Peter’s Basilica. Founder of the Fatebenefratelli  Saint John of God Date Issued: 10/03/1995 Scott #994 Perforation; 13 1/4 x 14 Face Value: L 750  Saint John of God - Patron of Hospitals and of the Sick Date Issued: 06/21/1986 Scott #775 Perforation; 13 1/2 x 14 Face Value: L 700 Saint John of God (1495-1550) was born João Duarte Cidade to André Cidade and Teresa Duarte. At age 8 he disappeared. The reason behind his disappearance from his home town of Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal is not clear. What is known is that he eventually was given housing and work by a sheepherder in Oropesa, a municipality of Toledo, Spain. After a stay in Oropesa he joined the military. After a conflict with authorities in the military, he went back to Oropesa. Still being restless, he returned to military life. After 18 years of additional military service, he left the military and returned to Oropesa, Spain. He worked as a stevedore. In 1537 at age 42, he had a conversion of heart after listening to a preaching on repentance by the mystic John of Avila. At this time, he became devout to the spiritual life, even to the extent of selling religious books. For reasons unknown, he had a mental breakdown and was placed in a mental hospital where the treatment was inhuman. He was visited by John of Avila. John of Avila became his spiritual advisor. It was in the hospital that John of Avila suggested that he serve in the hospital as a volunteer nurse. Eventually, he was set free to leave the hospital. He then made a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Exremadura, Spain. There he had a vision of the Blessed Mother telling him to work for the poor and sick. In 1537 in Granada, Spain he started a home for those sick and homeless. It was from these beginnings along with others who joined his ministry and funds from King Philip II of Spain that put into motion the founding of a religious order of monks to serve the poor and sick. Twenty-two years after his death in 1572 the “Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God” was approved by the Holy See. John of God, was the name given to him by Bishop Sebastián Ramírez of Túy, Spain.  Vatican Pharmacy First Day Cover Issued: 02/19/2024 by the Vatican Post Office Stamp Scott #1846 References: |
