“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; carefully consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7). Deep and heartfelt are the sentiments of gratitude for the late Pope Francis, who returned to the House of the Father on the morning of Monday, April 21, 2025, at the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
On the Dies Natalis of Pope Francis
The Postal and Philatelic Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate of the Vatican City State has produced a special postmark to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Pope Francis (2013–2025), which falls on April 21, 2026.
During the 31st Annual Rector’s Dinner of the Pontifical North American College in Rome, held on Thursday evening, April 16, Monsignor Thomas W. Powers, presented the Rector’s Awards to the President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Sr. Raffaella Petrini, and to the American couple Curtis and Michaelann Martin.
New electric vehicle for waste collection
In keeping with its goal of reaching zero emissions, another step has been added to the “Ecological Conversion 2030” program of the Vatican City State by transforming waste into a resource and reducing the environmental impact through renewable energy sources.
An agreement was signed on Friday, April 10, between the Governorate of Vatican City and Elli Mobility, a company of the Volkswagen Group. The agreement concerns the adoption of Elli Mobility’s card and the use of its centralized digital platform to manage the charging of the electric vehicle fleet.
The President of the Governorate, Sr. Raffaella Petrini, participated in the annual Board meeting of the Florida Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, which took place on Friday, April 10, in Palm Beach, Florida.
On the 1025th Anniversary of the Apparition in Foggia Italy of Mary Mother of God Crowned
The Postal and Philatelic Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate of the Vatican City State has created a special postmark to mark the 1025th anniversary of the apparition in Foggia, Italy of Mary Mother of God Crowned.
Apostolic Journey of Pope Leo XIV in Africa
The Postal and Philately Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate of the Vatican City State has produced four special postmarks on the occasion of the apostolic journey of Pope Leo XIV to nations in the African continent—Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea—which will take place from April 13 to 23, as well as a special postmark for the 1025th anniversary of the apparition of the Mother of God Crowned, in Foggia, Italy.
From Darkness to Light
During Easter Vigil, the night in which we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, the Church speaks to us in a powerful language—its language of symbols. Three of these, in particular, help us to understand what takes place on this night of the Resurrection: light, water, and the intoning of a new song—the Easter Alleluia.
The meaning of Christ’s Passion
1. The passion of him by whose blood our delinquencies have been blotted out is solemnly read, solemnly celebrated every year, so that our memories may be the more happily refreshed by this annual devotion, and our faith rendered more brilliantly illustrious by the faithful people assembling in great numbers.
