What artwork inspired the design of the Vatican’s special postmark for the 58th World Day of Peace on January 1, 2025?
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| The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo |
| The Return of the Prodigal Son by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo |
| The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci |
| The Annunciation by Fra Angelico |
Your answer was: The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo. |
Answer: The Return of the Prodigal Son by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
For the 58th World Day of Peace, celebrated on January 1, 2025, the Vatican Post Office did not issue a commemorative stamp. Instead, it marked the occasion with a special postmark—a philatelic gesture that carries deep symbolic and spiritual meaning. This decision underscores the Vatican’s emphasis on the message of the day rather than on material production, allowing the postmark itself to become a vehicle for reflection and prayer.
The postmark’s design is inspired by The Return of the Prodigal Son, a painting by 17th-century Spanish Baroque artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. The image captures the moment of reconciliation between the repentant son and his forgiving father—a powerful visual metaphor for mercy, healing, and peace. This theme resonates deeply with the message chosen by Pope Francis for the 2025 observance:
“Rimetti a noi i nostri debiti: concedici la tua pace”
(“Forgive us our debts: grant us your peace”).
The postmark is circular, 38 mm in diameter, and includes the following inscriptions:
- “58a GIORNATA MONDIALE DELLA PACE”
- “POSTE VATICANE – 1° GENNAIO 2025”
- The papal theme for the day
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