Some VPS News

New Members Please welcome the following new members of the Vatican Philatelic Society: Father John Pagel John Bates We wish them many years of happiness and philatelic fulfillment as members of VPS. Papal Trip to Spain Travels of Pope John Paul II: Spain--1993 Scott 965 (1994) On Saturday morning, Pope Leo XIV embarked on the fourth foreign apostolic voyage of his papacy to visit the western European country of Spain. The week-long trip will include stops in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands. Following his departure from Rome/Fiumicino International Airport Saturday morning, Pope Leo arrived in Madrid and was honored with an official welcome at the Adolfo Suárez Madrid/Barajas International Airport. He was then whisked to the Royal Palace for a courtesy visit with the King and Queen of Spain. On Saturday evening, the pope visited the CEDIA 24 Horas Social Project, a Cáritas Madrid facility that provides care to the homeless. He capped off the day with a prayer vigil with young people at the Plaza de Lima. On Sunday, Pope Leo celebrated Mass for the Feast of Corpus Christi, and participated in a traditional Corpus Christi Procession following the Mass. In the evening, he met privately with members of the Augustinian Order at the Apostolic Nunciature. The pope will depart Madrid on Tuesday and proceed to Barcelona. The highlight of the trip will take place on Wednesday evening, when the pope will celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família, and will inaugurate the recently-completed Tower of Jesus Christ, an event occurring more than 140 years since the start of construction on the Basilica in 1882. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to leave Barcelona on Thursday morning for the Canary Islands, with his return to Rome planned for Friday, June 12.