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World peace…it is an elusive dream that man has chased for time immemorial. That pursuit of peace has been in sharp focus recently. A quick Google search reveals that at the present time there are over 130 armed conflicts underway around the world, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This includes the most visible major wars in Ukraine and Iran, civil wars in the Sudan and Nigeria (which has a major anti-Christian component) as well as many so-called “active theatres” which fly under the radar. World peace seems like something everyone would want but has been so hard for mankind to achieve. Pope Leo XIV has been at the forefront of recent efforts calling attention to the quest for peace. At a Rosary Vigil for Peace at the Vatican on April 11, his homily included quotes from no fewer than five of his predecessors (Pope Pius XII, Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis), as well as his own stark call for the end of conflict: ”Enough of war!” The entire text of his reflections can be found in the link in the References. Turning to philately, forty years ago, Vatican City released a five-stamp set to commemorate the United Nations campaign in 1986 entitled “International Year of Peace”. First proposed in 1981, the International Year of Peace coincided with the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the UN in 1946. In addition to the UN, the International Red Cross also recognized the International Year of Peace and emphasized the goal: "to prevent and alleviate human suffering, protect life and health and to promote lasting peace and international co-operation".The stamps issued by Vatican City on April 14, 1986, were designed and engraved by artist Luca Vangelli..They share a similar design, but each features a different quote and image. The stamps were issued in response to the request by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) to member nations to issue stamps to celebrate the Year. 
A detailed article by James Hamilton on the International Year of Peace issue can be found by clicking on the link in the References below. The article looks at the Vatican City stamp issue as well as stamps issued by other countries around the world celebrating the International Year of Peace. The stamps may be forty years old, but their message of world peace resonates loudly today. Let us hope and pray the message is heard by people around the world and that they heed the call from the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the peacemakers". REFERENCES: |
