(0=no, 1=publish, 2=hold)

  (B for second year group)

  (YYYY-MM-DD)

  (MM/DD)

  (1 - Not done or incomplete, 2 - No outside material used, 3 - Meets standards)

Which Pope is featured on the 2025 Vatican stamp series, and what central message did he emphasize in his first public address from the Loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica?

<center><img style='border-radius: 50%;'src='http://vaticanstamps.org/cancels/images-std/postmarks/2025-20.jpg' height='200'></center><br><br> The Vatican City State, the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church, has long used its postage stamps not only for mail but as miniature ambassadors of faith, history, and culture. Issued by the Vatican’s Philatelic and Numismatic Office, these stamps often commemorate significant religious events, papal milestones, and messages of global importance.<br><br> On May 27, 2025, the Vatican released a special series of stamps and a commemorative postmark to mark the election of Pope Leone XIV. This series, titled “Die Emissionis” (Day of Issue), captures key moments from the Pope’s first public appearances, including his greeting from the Loggia of Blessings and the Missa Pro Ecclesia in the Sistine Chapel.<br><br> What makes this issue particularly meaningful is the Pope’s inaugural message: a heartfelt call for peace. Echoing the words of the Risen Christ—“Peace be with you”—Pope Leone XIV emphasized peace as a humble, disarming, and divine gift meant for all people, regardless of nation or creed. His message resonated deeply in a world marked by conflict and division, setting the tone for a pontificate rooted in reconciliation and unity.<br><br> The stamps themselves are not only philatelic collectibles but also visual narratives of a pivotal moment in Church history. With values ranging from €1.25 to €3.20, they depict the Pope’s first blessings, liturgical moments, and his symbolic outreach to the faithful.<br><br>

This trivia question and answer written by Microsoft Co-Pilot using Vatican Postal Announcement information.