Text

<center> 
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1704.jpg' > 
Pope Francis Scott 704 (2020)</center>
 
On January 5, 2023, we witnessed Pope Francis officiate at the burial of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Much was made about the fact that this was the first time a modern-day Pope officiated at the burial of his predecessor. Pope Benedict did preside over the funeral of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. However, at the time he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger--he would not be elected Pope for another 10 days and thus was not a sitting Pope burying his predecessor. To find an example of a seated Pope burying his predecessor, you have you go back to 1802.
 
In 1797, French troops invaded Italy and defeated papal troops. The French demanded renunciation of papal temporal authority. Pope Pius VI refused, and was taken prisoner and moved around Italy and France. On August 29, 1799, the captured Pope Pope Pius VI died. Three years later, his body was returned to Rome and was given a Catholic funeral, which was presided over by Pope Pius VII. Thus, in February 1802, Pope Pius VII buried his predecessor, Pope Pius VI.
 
<center>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1142.jpg' > 
Pope Pius VI Scott 1142 (2000)
</center> 
While doing the research on Pope Pius VI, an interesting tidbit of information was learned. Pius VI contributed to the development of the Catholic Church in the United States of America. In November of 1789, he released the American clergy from the jurisdiction of the Vicar Apostolic in England, erecting the first American episcopal see which was the Diocese of Baltimore. Thus, the U.S. Church gained independence from English rule in 1789. Just another little interesting fact.
 
<center>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/842.jpg' >
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/843.jpg' >
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/844.jpg' > 
Ecclesiastical Hierarchy in the US Bicentenial 
Scott 842-844 (1989)</center>
 
Second interesting fact: when Pope Pius VII was elected (the exiled coronation in Venice) in 1800 he had to wear a papier-mache papal tiara because the French had stolen the original one. 
 
REFERENCES 
<li>Wikipedia, <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_VI'>Pope Pius VI</a> 
<li>Gordon Kerr, Timeline Of The Popes: A History from St Peter To Frances I, (1796-1800), copyright 2013, RW Press Ltd.

Update A Postal Database Record