New Issues from the Postal and Philatelic Service of Vatican City
The Postal and Philatelic Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate of Vatican City State announces a new series of philatelic issues to be released on 26 February 2026. The six issues celebrate various anniversaries and special occasions related to the Pontiffs, international relations and Easter.
Folder, commemorative cover, stamp and special “die emissionis” postmark dedicated to the Cathedral of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in Kyiv, Ukraine
To commemorate a triple anniversary dedicated to the Greek-Catholic Church in Ukraine, a limited-edition folder with commemorative cover, a stamp, and a special die emissionis postmark dedicated to the Cathedral of Kyiv will be issued. These items mark the 12th anniversary of the consecration of the Cathedral of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in Kyiv, the 20th anniversary of the return of the See of the Head and Father of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church from Lviv to Kyiv, and the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the Metropolitanate of Kyiv.
The philatelic product includes a folder priced at €10.00 with a commemorative cover illustrated with the image of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, franked with a €1.35 stamp depicting a view of the Cathedral at dusk. The twilight setting, due to the lack of illumination, underscores the ongoing conflict.
Consecrated in 2013, the Cathedral represents the spiritual and institutional center of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, born from the trials of twentieth-century persecution and a point of reference for the faithful both in Ukraine and in the diaspora.
Stamp and special “die emissionis” postmark for the Sixth Centenary of the Apparition of Our Lady of Monte Berico
A €1.30 postage stamp and corresponding special postmark are dedicated to the six hundredth anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary on Monte Berico hill.
According to tradition, on 7 March 1426, during a plague epidemic ravaging Italy, the Virgin Mary appeared to Vincenza Pasini, inviting the population to prayer, conversion, and penance, promising the end of the plague. In a second apparition on 1 August 1428, Mary renewed her message and requested the construction of a church on the hill. Thus was born the Sanctuary of Monte Berico in the northern city of Vicenza, which over the centuries became one of the most important centers of Marian devotion.
The stamp depicts the fifteenth-century statue of Our Lady of Monte Berico, carved from local stone of the Berici Hills in the Veneto region. The image recalls the theme of the Mother of Mercy, who shelters the faithful beneath her open mantle.
The special die emissionis postmark reproduces a detail of Mary Mother of Mercy. It also includes the inscriptions: “Prima aparizione a Monte Berico 1426–2026,” “Poste Vaticane,” “die emissionis 26.02.2026,” and “Sesto centenario.”
150th Anniversary of the Birth of Pius XII
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Eugenio Pacelli, the Postal and Philatelic Service is issuing a souvenir sheet and a special die emissionis postmark. Pacelli served as Supreme Pontiff from 1939 to 1958 under the name Pius XII, guiding the Church through one of the most dramatic periods of the twentieth century. He distinguished himself for his intense diplomatic activity during the Second World War and for his significant doctrinal magisterium, notably marked by the proclamation of the dogma of the Assumption in 1950.
The souvenir sheet reproduces the famous portrait of Pius XII painted in 1949 by Leonard Boden, preserved at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo.
The postmark depicts an image of Pius XII in the act of blessing and bears the inscriptions: “150 anniversario della nascita di Pio XII,” “Poste Vaticane,” and “Die Emissionis 26.02.2026.”
Bicentenary of Diplomatic Relations between the Holy See and Brazil
In 2026, the two hundredth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Federative Republic of Brazil will be commemorated. These relations began on 23 January 1826, when the first Brazilian ambassador presented his letters of credence to Pope Leo XII, shortly after the South American country’s independence.
Over the past two centuries, dialogue between the two entities has developed steadily, grounded in institutional cooperation and convergence on major international issues such as the promotion of peace, social justice, environmental protection, and attention to the Amazon region. In Brazil, home to the largest Catholic community in the world, the Church continues to play a significant role in education, healthcare, and charitable work.
The €2.55 stamp reproduces the official Bicentenary logo, designed by the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and artist Evelyn Grumach. It features the outline of the Cross combined with the borders of Brazilian territory.
The postmark reproduces the official logo of the event and includes the inscriptions: “200 anniversario di relazioni diplomatiche Santa Sede - Brasile,” “Poste Vaticane,” and “Die emissionis 26.02.2026.”
Easter 2026
As is tradition, one issue is dedicated to the solemnity of Easter, the center of faith and culmination of the Catholic liturgical year. The €1.35 stamp reproduces the painting of the Resurrection of Christ by Domenico Cresti, known as Passignano, preserved in the Vatican Pinacoteca. The composition, built upon a contrast of light and shadow, portrays Christ’s triumph over sin and death.
The accompanying postmark bears the commemorative inscriptions: “Poste Vaticane” and “Die emissionis 26.02.2026.”
Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV – 2026
One series is dedicated to the first year of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV. The issue consists of four stamps which, through four portraits, retrace significant moments of the Pope’s pastoral and liturgical ministry.
The four denominations (€1.30, €1.35, €2.55, and €3.35) recall emblematic celebrations of the past year: the Mass for the Jubilee of Families, highlighting the central role of the family in transmitting the faith; the Mass for the Jubilee of the Missionary World and Migrants, a sign of openness and attention to the marginalized; the canonization celebration of Blesseds Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, witnesses to youthful holiness; the Mass in memory of Pope Francis, expresses apostolic continuity and the profound spiritual bond between the Pontiffs.
The postmark features an image of the papal portrait used for the mosaic placed in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, accompanied by the inscriptions: “Leo PP. XIV – MMXXVI – Die emissionis 26.02.2026” and “Poste Vaticane.”
