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<img height='300px' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Emblem_of_the_Holy_See_usual.svg'> 
Emblem of the Holy See 
Wikimedia Commons 
File available under the Creative Commons 
CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication</center>
 
<center>
<img height='300px' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Sede_vacante.svg'> 
Sede Vacante Emblem 
Wikimedia Commons 
In the Public Domain</center>
 
As we move past the death and funeral of Pope Francis, we are now in the nine-day mourning period known as the “Novemdiales”, which runs through Sunday, May 4. It is also a time to look ahead as the Church moves forward. In the upcoming days, the College of Cardinals will meet in Conclave to elect a new Bishop of Rome. The Conclave usually meets 15 days following the death of the pope, which would put the start date for the Conclave on Tuesday, May 6, if all goes according to plan. Until a new pope is elected, the seat of the papacy remains vacant: Sede Vacante. For Vatican City stamp collectors, this is recognized as a special time when unique stamps are issued for use until the next pope is elected. 
 
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. This period runs from the time the papacy becomes vacant until the election of a new pope by the Conclave of Cardinals. 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 papal tiara above the crossed keys is replaced by an “umbraculum” (umbrella), said to represent the absence of a pope. The two papal emblems are shown at the top of the page.
 
Since the establishment of the Vatican City State in 1929, there have been seven interregnum periods, and now eight with the passing of Pope Francis. 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:
<blockquote>
”[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.
 
In this time, the ordinary government is ensured by the Apostolic Camera, chaired by the Cardinal Camerlingo of the Holy Roman Church and consisting of the Vice-Camerlingo and the Cleric Prelates of the Camera.
 
The issue of Vacant Papal See stamps is intended to commemorate the event and ensure the continuity of the issue of postal stamps, to be used only during the period of the Vacant Papal See itself.”
</blockquote>
Below are shown all the Sede Vacante stamps issued since the establishment of the Vatican City State in 1929. It will be interesting to see the latest Sede Vacante stamps, which are normally released about 10 days following the death of the pope. And Vatican City stamp collectors will be anxious to find out how they can get copies of these unique stamps, issued for a specific reason and valid for a very limited time.
 
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<img height='225px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/61.jpg' >
<img height='225px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/62.jpg' >
<img height='225px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/63.jpg' > 
<img height='225px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/64.jpg' >
<img height='225px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/65.jpg' >
<img height='225px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/66.jpg' >
<img height='225px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/67.jpg' > 
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)</center>
 
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<img height='225px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/247.jpg' >
<img height='225px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/248.jpg' >
<img height='225px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/249.jpg' > 
Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope Pius XII
 Scott 247-249 (released October 21, 1958)</center>
 
<center>
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/362.jpg' >
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/363.jpg' >
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/364.jpg' > 
Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope John XXIII
 Scott 362-364 (released June 15, 1963)</center>
 
<center>
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/635.jpg' >
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/636.jpg' >
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/637.jpg' > 
Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope Paul VI
 Scott 635-637 (released August 23, 1978)</center>
 
<center>
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/638.jpg' >
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/639.jpg' >
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/640.jpg' > 
Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope John Paul I
 Scott 638-640 (released October 12, 1978)</center>
 
<center>
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1292.jpg' >
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1293.jpg' >
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1294.jpg' > 
Sede Vacante Stamps following the Death of Pope John Paul II
 Scott 1292-1294 (released April 12, 2005)</center>
 
<center>
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1519.jpg' >
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1520.jpg' >
<img height='275px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1521.jpg' > 
Sede Vacante Stamps following the Retirement of Pope Benedict XVI
 Scott 1519-1521 (released March 1, 2013)</center>
 
REFERENCES: 
<li>Jonah McKeown, Catholic News Agency (CNA), Apr 23, 2025, <a href='https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/263553/sede-vacante-and-interregnum-what-do-they-mean?utm_campaign=CNA%20Daily&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--zDj7b_AX1lPNQ08j6uwjSVlXOn6TKhwN9tOeP_hREig5juyIAoDOpMPu5vNfUR4rw-qBpnIwqXRyMWCFc2_uZbOi1Yg&_hsmi=358030597&utm_content=358030597&utm_source=hs_email'>CNA explains: ‘Sede vacante’ and ‘interregnum’ — what do they mean?</a> 
<li>Vatican.va, <a href='https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis.html'>Universi Dominici gregis</a> 
<li>UFN, April 12, 2005, <a href='https://www.vaticanstamps.org/UFN/images/2005-2-01-1.jpg'>Vacant Papal See</a> 
<li>Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search

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Sede Vacante and the Interregnum:What Is It and Its Stamps

Sede Vacante and the Interregnum:
What Is It and Its Stamps