Current Position: Earth Sector, U.S.A. Outpost, Breakroom Module 3
Mission Status: The New Year has begun!!
The Vatican has announced that the theme for the 2026 World Day of Peace (January 1st) is “Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace.”
On the occasion of the 59th World Day of Peace, the Post and Philately Service issued a special cancellation, the imprint of which is reproduced below:• Date: January 1, 2026
• Design: A graphic composition freely inspired by the theme chosen by Pope Leo XIV for the 59th World Day of Peace:
“Peace be with you all: toward a disarmed and disarming peace.”
• Format: Circular
• Diameter: 38 mm
The cancellation includes the motto, the inscriptions:
“59th WORLD DAY OF PEACE” and “VATICAN POST – JANUARY 1, 2026.”
Details of the 2026 Theme
• Announced by Pope Leo XIV in August 2025, through the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
• The theme draws from the Gospel greeting of the Risen Christ (“Peace be with you” – Jn 20:19) and extends it universally to believers, non-believers, political leaders, and citizens.
• Core message: Humanity is invited to reject the logic of violence and war and embrace a peace rooted in love and justice.
• “Unarmed and disarming” peace:
• Unarmed → not based on fear, threats, or weapons.
• Disarming → capable of resolving conflicts, opening hearts, and generating trust, empathy, and hope.
• The Vatican emphasized that it is not enough to call for peace; it must be embodied in a way of life that rejects all forms of violence, visible or systemic.
Context and Symbolism
• The announcement coincides with Pope Leo XIV’s early papal focus on peace, often expressed in his phrase “unarmed and disarming.”
• The Vatican Publishing House also released a book of his first speeches, “And Let There Be Peace! Words to the Church and the World,” underscoring his commitment to this theme.
• The World Day of Peace, instituted by Pope Paul VI in 1968, is celebrated annually on January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
Still need some celebration? Click on the link below for a little celebration:
https://vaticanstamps.org/vpsrobot/2025/Dec/diaries/NewYear07.html
— VPSrobot