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For Christmas 2025 the Nativity scene for St. Peter’s Square, the one for the Paul VI Hall, and the monumental evergreen tree will come from the towns of Lagundo and Ultimo, from the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno and from the nation of Costa Rica.
On the occasion of the beginning of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, the Postal and Philatelic Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate of the Vatican City State has issued a special philatelic release composed of two commemorative covers, each adorned with thematic stamps and accompanied by a dedicated postal cancellation.
The Governorate of Vatican City State has recently introduced a new fleet of electric vehicles, continuing its path toward eco-friendly mobility within Vatican territory and the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo. The initiative stems from a collaboration with Exelentia, a company specializing in zero-emission transport solutions.
September 29, 2025, marks the 90th anniversary of the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Vatican Observatory at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo. The Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical institutes in the world: its origins go back to the reform of the calendar from Julian to Gregorian in 1582. It was refounded in the Vatican by Pope Leo XIII in 1891 with the motu proprio Ut Mysticam.
The annual International Meeting of Chapter Leaders of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums took place in Ottawa, Canada, from September 19 to 21. The delegation from Vatican City was led by Sr. Rafaella Petrini, President of the Governorate and Giuseppe Puglisi-Albrandi, Secretary General. Among other officials, Mons. Terence Hogan, Coordinator of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums also attended.
Katia Passerini is the 27th President of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. At her inauguration and the beginning of her mandate—held on the afternoon of Friday, September 26, at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane (Washington State)—Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, was present to deliver the Keynote Address in English, which we publish in full below, along with our Italian translation.
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