Home
 40th Anniversary of Caritas Internationalis Scott 853-856 (1990) On June 5, 1990, Vatican City issued a four-stamp set, as well as a souvenir sheet, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the formation of Caritas International, or “Caritas Internationalis” (Latin for 'Charity International'). The stamps, as well as a subsequent unique situation surrounding the souvenir sheet, will be discussed. Caritas International is a confederation of 162 national Catholic relief, development, and social service organizations. Operating around the world, “Caritas Internationalis” refers to both the global network of Caritas organizations as well as to its general secretariat based in Vatican City. The stated mission of Caritas is "to serve the poor and to promote charity and justice throughout the world". It is the second-largest international humanitarian aid network in the world after the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The roots of Caritas International can be traced to Pope Leo XIII's encyclical “Rerum Novarum”, which formed the roots of modern Catholic social doctrine. Shortly thereafter, the first Caritas organization was established in Germany in 1897 by Lorenz Werthmann. Over the next few years, national Caritas organizations sprang up, including Catholic Charities in the United States in 1910. Following World War I, the Eucharistic Congress of 1924 in Amsterdam provided a forum for the expansion of cooperation between existing national Caritas organizations, with the eventual establishment of a centralized management and the organization of six specialized sections: youth, knowledge and teaching of charity, aid to the poor and to families, immigration and housing, assistance to the sick, and the fight against alcoholism. World War II stalled efforts to consolidate the national Caritas groups into a cohesive international organization. In 1947, with the approval of the Vatican Secretariat of State, coordination efforts resumed, leading to the formal establishment Caritas International in 1950. The Caritas International stamps issued in 1990 were issued in two formats: four individual stamps and a souvenir sheet. The four stamps, shown at the top of the article, illustrate four sections of a mosaic found in the apse of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome: Abraham (450 L), The Three Visitors (650 L), Abraham and Sarah (800 L), and the three visitors seated at Abraham’s table (2000 L). The souvenir sheet integrates the four individual stamps to form a complete view of the mosaic.  40th Anniversary of Caritas Internationalis Souvenir Sheet, Scott 857 (1990) In 1997, the souvenir sheet reappeared with the overprint “Pro Terremotati 1997” (“Earthquake Victims 1997”). The sheet was sold for 8000 L to raise funds following a major earthquake in the Umbria and Marche regions of Italy. The sheet was reissued as part of a folder by the Vatican Post Office. In a letter to VPS Member Fred Levitsky in 1998, the post office stated that “the overprint is not on the stamps” (it is in the selvage at the bottom of the sheet), thus the “S.S. was not considered a new issue by the Administration”. The reprinted souvenir sheet is not listed in the Scott Catalogue with a specific catalogue number—it does include a note regarding this issue. In addition, the cost of the folder at the time (8000 L) exceeded the face value of the four stamps (which totaled 3900 L). Mr. Levitsky warned VPS members of the potential for forgeries. To avoid being cheated, he suggested purchasing only legitimate copies of the overprinted sheet included as part of the special folder.  Caritas Internationalis Overprinted Souvenir Sheet “Pro Terremotati 1997” (“Earthquake Victims 1997”) REFERENCES: Michael J. Krejci, page 1, Something New from the Vatican Post Office F.J. Levitsky, pp. 4-5, Warning and Update--Vatican Souvenir Sheet Overprint |
