The following events will be remembered: the Tenth World Meeting of Families, the 150th anniversary of the birth of St. Luigi Orione, the Obelisk of St. Peter’s Square and the Jubilee of 2025.
Italy – Rome (16/04/2022 16:45, Gaudium Press) On May 16, the Vatican Philatelic Office will issue philatelic coins to commemorate the Tenth World Meeting of Families, the 150th anniversary of the birth of St. Luigi Orione, the Obelisk in St. Peter’s Square, and the Jubilee Year 2025.
10th World Meeting of Families
To celebrate the Tenth World Meeting of Families, which will be held in Rome from June 22 to 16, 2022, with the theme: “Love in the family: vocation and way of holiness”, the Vatican Philatelic Office took inspiration from the work created by Jesuit Father Marko Ivan Rupnik, “The Wedding at Cana in Galilee”.
In the center of the composition are depicted Jesus and a female figure representing the Church and Humanity. On the left are the bride and groom with their faces covered by a veil, to portray the mystery of marriage. The apostle then, like the master of the table at the wedding feast at Cana, pours the new wine that flowed from Christ’s side to the families who, looking at the image, become participants in the scene.
150th anniversary of the birth of St. Luigi Orione
On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Saint Louis Orione, a joint edition is being prepared between Italy, Argentina (considered by him as his second homeland), and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Designed by the Spanish painter Raúl Berzosa, the painted image presents some symbols of the priest’s charisma.
The reddish rose, recalls the sign that Mary gave to his hometown, Pontecurone, in the month before his birth, which occurred on June 23, 1872. Despite several days that passed, the flower did not wither. The Marian image reproduced on the seal on the saint’s shoulder represents the Mother of Divine Providence, the main patroness of the Congregation he founded. On the other hand, a double symbol represented by Christ holding the Vatican Basilica over his heart with his left hand and with his right hand, symbol of God’s action, makes the tears and blood of the poor fall on Don Orione’s right hand, which lit in the Saint, and continues to light in his work, the sacred fire of charity.
Obelisk of St. Peter’s Square
For the “Europe 2022” series, a leaflet and two stamps inspired by the theme “Stories and Myths” were created. The transport of the Egyptian obelisk in St. Peter’s Square is reproduced in the image. At the time, this work relied on the strength of 900 men and 140 horses. Weighing 327 tons the obelisk was erected. Despite the silence imposed during this service, a Ligurian sailor, Bresca da San Remo, realizing that the ropes holding the obelisk were about to break due to excessive tension, shouted, “Water in the ropes”. His insight saved that mission and he was rewarded by the Pope with the title of captain of the first regiment of the pontifical line, plus his family won the privilege of supplying the Vatican with the branches used for Palm Sunday.
Jubilee 2025
In preparation for the Jubilee 2025, a leaflet and stamp of an ideal pilgrimage around the earth has also been prepared. The leaflet depicts a people walking toward Christ, whose tunic is decorated with oriental embroidery. The stamp depicts the Asian continent flanked by the image of Our Lady of China, whose Shrine, built by the Jesuits in She Shan in 1863, is the most important Catholic Shrine in the country and one of the main pilgrimage sites in Asia. (EPC)
Compiled by Teresa Joseph
