A stamp to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the United States of America

On Monday, 16 September, a stamp will be presented in the Conference Hall of the Vatican Museums by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga

Forty years ago, the Holy See and the United States of America began diplomatic relations. The Governorate of Vatican City State will issue a stamp by the Post and Philately Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, to commemorate the anniversary.

The new stamp will be presented by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and Laura Hochla, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the Embassy of the United States to the Holy See, on Monday, 16 September, the day of issue, in the Vatican Museums Conference Hall. Sister Raffaella Petrini, General Secretary of the Governorate, and the engineer, Antonino Intersimone, Director of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, and the new Office Manager of the Post and Philately Service, Fr Felice Bruno of the Sons of Divine Providence (Orionini).

The stamp features the seals of the Holy See and the United States of America, united ideally by ribbons that depict the countries’ flags. A special die emissionis cancellation (First day) will be available, depicting the seals of the Holy See and the United States of America, bearing  the words, “40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the United States of America” and “die emissonis 16.09.2024”

The Apostolic Nunciature in Washington was instituted on 11 January 1984 with John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter, Quandoquidem heri, signed by Cardinal Agostino Casaroli. On 26 March 1984, Archbishop Pio Laghi, whose title was Apostolic Delegate before then, became Apostolic Pro Nuncio. The first Ambassador of the United States of America to the Holy See was William Wilson, who had served as personal Representative of President Ronald Reagan.