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Beginning in 1658, French missionaries Francois Pallu, Pierre Lamber, and Ignace Cotolendi directed evangelization in Asia on behalf of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. These missionaries often traveled in disguise to avoid persecution. The Kingdom of Siam allowed religious toleration and a community of 2,000 existed when the missionaries arrived. In 1664, the missionaries developed a series of instructions for the conduct of evangelization issued at Ayutthaya. They also developed a seminary for the formation of native clergy. Pope Benedict XVI paid tribute to the commitment and dedication to those who at times had to make the ultimate sacrifice in the work of evangelism in those lands. 
Ayutthaya was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam for more than 400 years. Ayutthaya (Siam) is located in central Thailand, about 55 miles north of Bangkok. It is the site of immense temples and other structures that are important both historically and architecturally. Ayutthaya was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1991. 
The €2,00 stamp, a joint issue with Thailand, depicts on the left the missionaries receiving their commission from the pope. The right side of the stamp depicts the Church of St. Joseph of Ayutthaya, a place of worship for over 300 years. The stamp was issued in sheets of ten.

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