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<div class="header">
 <img src="http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/letterlogo.jpg" alt="Logo" height="150">    
 <h1 class='Shead1'>Vatican Stamp Notes</h1>
</div> 
 

 
 

<center>
 <h2 class='Shead'>BREAKING NEWS: POPE FRANCIS HAS DIED</h2> 
 Lou Giorgetti </center>

<center>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1525.jpg'>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1728.jpg'>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1819.jpg'> 
Pope Francis: 
Beginning of Pontificate (Scott 1525, 2013) 
50th Anniversary of Ordination (Scott 1728, 2019) 
First Pastoral Visit, Lampedusa, Italy, 2013 (Scott 1819, 2023)</center>
 
The world was stunned to receive the news this morning of the passing of Pope Francis, who died early on Easter Monday at his apartment in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta at the age of 88. The announcement came from the Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church:
<blockquote>“At 7:35 this morning, the bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of God and his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized.”
</blockquote>
The news of the death of Pope Francis is rather shocking, given that he had been showing steady improvement from a critical lung infection that had hospitalized him in February and March. In the days following his release on March 23, he was seen rarely in public, but recently he had been out and about. Ten days ago, he made an impromptu visit to Saint Peter’s Basilica. He then visited the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on Saturday, April 12, and presided over a service at the Regina Coeli Prison on Holy Thursday. Yesterday, Easter Sunday, he met briefly with Vice President J.D. Vance before appearing at the loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica to greet the throngs of people in Saint Peter’s Square, wishing all a “Happy Easter”. He presented his annual “Urbi et Orbi” blessing (which was read by a clergy member with the pope seated beside him), and then toured the square in the “Popemobile”. This would be the last public appearance of Pope Francis. 
 
Born in Argentina on December 17, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the eldest of five children born to Italian immigrants to the South American country. In 1969, he was ordained as a priest and would eventually be created cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He served in a variety of pastoral roles in Argentina, eventually being named the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. He would serve in that role until 2013, when he was elected the 265th successor to Saint Peter upon the historic retirement of Pope Benedict XVI. Francis was the first pope from the New World of the Americas, and the first Jesuit to be elected pope. Known of his sense of humor, he stated during his introduction to the world following his election:
<blockquote>
"You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother Cardinals have come almost to the ends of the Earth to get him ... but here we are. I thank you for the welcome that has come from the diocesan community of Rome."
</blockquote>
During his papacy, the well-traveled pontiff embarked on 46 pilgrimage visits to 61 countries, with the longest and most ambitious having occurred quite recently, in the fall of 2024, when he visited the Far East and Oceania over a period of 11 days. His last foreign trip took place on December 15, 2024, when he visited the French island of Corsica.
 
At age 88, Pope Francis was the oldest pope, while still serving, since Pope Leo XIII, who was aged 93 when he died in 1903. During his papacy he was plagued with a variety of health issues. He suffered from gastrointestinal and pulmonary issues over the years (he had a portion of one lung removed as a young man), and he suffer through a case of double pneumonia during his recent hospitalization.
 
History will eventually judge the successes and controversies of the pontificate of Pope Francis. His tenor at times was more political than that of his predecessors, as he tackled issues of the environment, worldwide immigration, and war, as well as issues of Church doctrine. The last five years of his pontificate saw him deal with the COVID pandemic, mass migration across Europe and the United States (as examples), wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and other issues of global importance. His convening of the Synod on Synodality, which served as a call for a more inclusive and "democratic" Church, was both hailed and reviled. Again, history will eventually be the judge.
 
Funeral plans for Pope Francis are incomplete at this time, but one can envision a simple ceremony in keeping with his papal experiences. His wish to be entombed at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, rather than Saint Peter's Basilica, was made public in 2023. The only scheduling announcement made by the Vatican this morning was that the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, planned for this coming Sunday (April 27) has been delayed. 
 
REFERENCES: 
<li>Wikipedia, <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Francis'>Pope Francis</a> 
<li>Catholic News Agency, April 21, 2025, <a href='https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262295/pope-francis-dies-at-88-leaving-legacy-of-reform-and-focus-on-church-s-peripheries?utm_campaign=CNA%20Daily&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_vxVZJgZQH-uATHrsmSn0iCfCCpZ9m5VjTxokadnQ4uiXS8X8_Pq00eeYZpQbGa9duD_eOS8vl15mY0MNIOfmK9x7PdQ&_hsmi=357604477&utm_content=357604477&utm_source=hs_email'>BREAKING: Pope Francis dies at 88, ending historic pontificate marked by mercy and reform</a> 
<li>NPR, March 13, 2013, <a href='https://www.npr.org/2013/03/13/174224173/transcript-pope-francis-first-speech-as-pontiff'>Transcript: Pope Francis' First Speech As Pontiff</a> 
<li>Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search

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<center>
 <h2 class='Shead'>Easter Monday</h2> 
 Marvin Lanahan </center>

<center>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1648.jpg'>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1706.jpg'> 
Vatican Easter Stamps: Left: Scott 1648 (2017) Right: Scott 1706 (2019)
</center> 
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is an important Christian holiday in many countries. It has different significance in various parts of the world, but generally, it is observed as a public holiday in countries in Europe and Africa, and in Australia.
 
In the Christian faith, Easter Monday marks the second day of the Octave of Easter, which covers the days from Easter Sunday through the following Sunday (the second Sunday of Easter). It is a continuation of the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, which is the central event of the Christian faith. Easter Monday represents the joy and hope that comes from the resurrection and the promise of new life.
 
In many cultures, Easter Monday is a day for various traditions and customs. For example, in some countries, people will play games or participate in outdoor activities, such as egg rolling or egg hunting. In other places, it is a day for feasting or visiting with family and friends.
 
Overall, Easter Monday is a time for reflection, celebration, and renewal in the Christian faith. It is a time to remember the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to reaffirm one's faith and commitment to living a life of love, compassion, and service.

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<center>
 <h2 class='Shead'>Calculating The Next Easter Date</h2> 
 Marvin Lanahan </center>

<center>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/467.jpg'>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/VPSlogo.jpg'>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1847.jpg'> 
Left: First Vatican Easter Stamp (Scott 467, 1969) 
Right: Latest Vatican Easter Stamp (Scott 1847, 2024)
</center> 
As we come to the end of Lent and and Easter season, our thoughts quickly turn to that annual question: what is the date for Easter next year? Since Easter is not a fixed-date feast, we need to turn to the formulas used to determine the date each year.
 
Sometimes it is fun to chat with artificial intelligence (AI) websites. My takeaway has been that most of my questions have been answered somewhat correctly. The technology is still very much in a developing stage and one needs to seriously question the accuracy of some of the answers given.
 
I recently asked the ChartGPT website about Easter and got some fairly good answers:
 
Q. How is the Easter date calculated in the Roman Catholic Church?
 
A. The Easter date in the Roman Catholic Church is calculated using a combination of astronomical calculations and church tradition.
 
The basic rule is that Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox (the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere), which is around March 20-21. This means that Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25.
 
To determine the date of the vernal equinox, the Catholic Church uses March 21 as the fixed date. This is known as the ecclesiastical vernal equinox. However, the actual astronomical vernal equinox can occur a day earlier or later than this date.
 
Once the date of the ecclesiastical vernal equinox is established, the next full moon is calculated. If the full moon falls on a Sunday, Easter is delayed by one week. If the full moon falls on a Sunday and also coincides with the vernal equinox, Easter is celebrated on the following Sunday.
 
This method of calculating the Easter date is known as the computus, and it has been used by the Catholic Church for centuries. The computus is a complex calculation that involves a number of factors, including the date of the full moon, the date of the vernal equinox, and the cycles of the moon and the sun.
 
Q. On how many different dates can Easter occur in the Roman Catholic Church?
 
A. Easter can occur on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25 in the Roman Catholic Church. Therefore, there can be a maximum of 35 different dates on which Easter can occur in the Roman Catholic Church.
 
Q. What pagan holiday is Easter based on in the Roman Catholic Church?
 
A. Easter in the Roman Catholic Church is not based on any specific pagan holiday, although there are some historical connections between Christian Easter and pre-Christian celebrations.
 
The timing of Easter is based on the lunar calendar and the Jewish holiday of Passover. In the early Christian Church, Easter was celebrated on the Sunday following the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, which is the day on which Passover falls. This was done in order to connect Easter with the Jewish tradition and to emphasize the link between the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
 
However, some scholars have suggested that some elements of the Easter celebration, such as the use of eggs and rabbits, may have been influenced by pre-Christian pagan traditions. For example, eggs were a symbol of new life in many ancient cultures, and rabbits were associated with fertility and rebirth.
 
Nevertheless, it is important to note that the primary focus of the Easter celebration in the Roman Catholic Church is on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the holiday has been celebrated by Christians for more than 1,500 years as a central event in the Christian faith.
 
Q. Why do the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Churches celebrate Easter on different dates?
 
A. The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Easter on different dates because they use different calendars to calculate the date of the holiday.
 
The Roman Catholic Church uses the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to correct inaccuracies in the older Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar, meaning it is based on the orbit of the earth around the sun, and it includes leap years to account for the fact that the earth's orbit is not exactly 365 days long. This means that the date of Easter in the Roman Catholic Church is calculated based on the relationship between the lunar cycle and the solar year.
 
The Eastern Orthodox Churches, on the other hand, use the Julian calendar, which was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC. The Julian calendar is also a solar calendar, but it does not include leap years in the same way that the Gregorian calendar does. This means that the date of Easter in the Eastern Orthodox Churches is calculated based solely on the lunar cycle.
 
As a result of these different methods of calculation, the date of Easter in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches can differ by as much as five weeks. However, there are also some years when the two churches celebrate Easter on the same day, such as in 2025, when Easter Sunday falls on April 20th for both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
 
Q. How many times has the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church met with the head of the Eastern Catholic Church?
 
A. The Popes of the Roman Catholic Church have met with the heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches many times throughout history.
 
The Eastern Catholic Churches are in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, but they have their own distinct liturgical, theological, and spiritual traditions that reflect the diversity of Eastern Christianity. The heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches are called Patriarchs, Major Archbishops, or Metropolitans, depending on the particular church.
 
Over the centuries, Popes have met with the heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches to discuss matters of common concern, such as ecumenical dialogue with the Orthodox Churches, pastoral care for Eastern Catholics, and the promotion of Christian unity. These meetings have taken place in a variety of contexts, including formal synods, informal visits, and joint declarations.
 
It is difficult to provide an exact number of how many times Popes have met with the heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches, as there have been many such meetings throughout history. However, it is safe to say that these meetings have been an important part of the ongoing dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. 
-----------------

This was a short conversation of only five questions. I have noticed that ChartGPT tends to break down in longer conversations and when you start challenging the answers. I had a poor reaction when ChartGPT got the question on how to contact the Vatican Philatelic Society was completely wrong. The more I challenged the answer to worse the answers became. OK, I didn't know that the VPS had a mailing address in Italy!! (We don't!!) So after spending some time in correction I think it is giving some correct answers some of the time. Given a chance, answers will probably improve.
 
So, when is Easter in 2026? To avoid a headache and to get a quick answer, I pulled up a calendar for 2026 and found that Easter Sunday will fall on April 5 next year.

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