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 Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope Francis Released April 28, 2025 One year ago today, on April 28, 2025, and one week following the death of Pope Francis, Vatican City released the four-stamp "Sede Vacante 2025" set, shown above, to be used exclusively until the election of the new pope (which turned out to be Pope Leo XIV, on May 8). For Vatican City stamp collectors, this is recognized as a special time when these unique stamps are issued for use. Upon the death (or retirement) of the pope, the Holy See is said to be in an “Interregnum” period—the time between the reigns of popes. The term “Sede Vacante” (meaning “Empty Seat”) also applies. In addition, at the death of the Pope all the heads of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia (including the Cardinal Secretary of State, the Cardinal Prefects, the Archbishop Presidents, together with the members of those Dicasteries) cease to exercise their offices (per the Apostolic constitution "Universi Dominici gregis" issued by Pope John Paul II in 1996 and updated by Pope Benedict in 2013). One artistic representation of the interregnum is the change in the seal of the papacy to reflect the vacancy. The depiction on the left shows the official seal of the papacy. To the right, the papal tiara above the crossed keys is replaced by an “umbraculum” ("umbrella"), said to represent the office of the Camerlengo, protecting the cathedra. 
 Emblem of the Holy See and the Sede Vacante Emblem Since the establishment of the Vatican City State in 1929, there have now been eight interregnum periods. During each of those times, the Vatican Post Office has followed official protocol and issued “Sede Vacante” stamps, which are only valid during the interregnum. The UFN announcement for the Sede Vacante stamps issued following the death of Pope John Paul II provides a good description of the interregnum period and the use of Sede Vacante stamps: ”[Following the death of the Holy Father], the Papal See is vacant. The Catholic Church has initiated a series of procedures aimed at guaranteeing the continuance of ordinary administration, on the one hand, and calling of the Conclave on the other, in which Cardinals will elect the new Supreme Pontiff.Shown below are the first seven sets of Sede Vacante stamps issued since the establishment of the Vatican City State in 1929, from the death of Pope Pius XI through the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI. 
 
 Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope Pius XI Overprinted stamps from the first Vatican City stamp issue Scott 61-67 (released February 20, 1939) 
 Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope Pius XII Scott 247-249 (released October 21, 1958) 
 Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope John XXIII Scott 362-364 (released June 15, 1963) 
 Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope Paul VI Scott 635-637 (released August 23, 1978) 
 Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope John Paul I Scott 638-640 (released October 12, 1978) 
 Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope John Paul II Scott 1292-1294 (released April 12, 2005) 
 Sede Vacante Stamps following the Retirement of Pope Benedict XVI Scott 1519-1521 (released March 1, 2013) REFERENCES: **Emblem of the Holy See: From Wikimedia Commons, file available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication **Sede Vacante Emblem: From Wikimedia Commons, in the Public Domain |
