Commemorative Stamp unveiled for the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the United States of America

In union for the defense of human dignity and the rights of every person

Forty years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the United States of America are not only a milestone, but a significant step on the journey of friendship and collaboration. To commemorate the anniversary, the Postal and Philately Service of the Governorate of the Vatican City State issued a postage stamp, which was officially unveiled on Monday morning, September 16, in the conference room of the Vatican Museums. A special postmark with the date of issue [die emissionis ] was prepared for the occasion, reproducing the coats of arms of the Holy See and the United States of America. The postmark reads “40th of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the United States of America”, “Poste Vaticane” and “die emissionis 16.09.2024”.

The enlarged reproduction of the stamp and the first special postmark were unveiled by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate, and Ms. Laura Hochla, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy to the Holy See. In her speech, Ms. Hochla emphasized that “It was January 10, 1984, when President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II decided to establish formal diplomatic relations. The United States opened an embassy to the Holy See on April 9, 1984. In fact, our relations go back much further.” She then noted that “The United States has cultivated consular relations with the Papal States since 1797. Today, the United States and the Holy See continue to cooperate on numerous global issues, such as the protection of migrants and refugees, interreligious dialogue, conflict resolution - including the promotion of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, protection and defense of the environment against climate change. The protection of human rights, the promotion of social justice and the protection of the rights of vulnerable populations are at the basis of this cooperative relationship, a relationship that is increasingly strong”. In this sense, Ms. Hochla noted, “the commemorative stamp, produced by the Postal and Philately Service of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, is the symbol of the long friendship and close collaboration that unites our two countries”. The meeting - moderated by Barbara Jatta, Director of the Vatican Museums - was attended by Sr. Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Governorate, Antonino Intersimone, director of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, and the Head of the Postal and Philately Service, Don Felice Bruno of the Sons of Divine Providence (Orionine Fathers). Ms. Hochla was accompanied by a delegation that included Mr. Stuart Smith, Chief International Postal Affairs of the U.S. State Department.

At the end of the conference, the participants visited the Anima Mundi Museum, where Romina Cometti guided them on a tour through the North American missionary and ethnology collection.

Below is the speech by the Cardinal President: 

address of cardinal fernando vérgez alzaga. president of the governorate of vatican city state, on the occasion of the philatelic issue for the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the holy see and the united states of america, 16 september in the vatican museums conference hall.

Firstly, I would like to greet M. Laura Hochla, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America to the Holy See., along with the U.S. Diplomatic Delegation.

I greet Sister Raffaella Petrini, General Secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City State and Mr. Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Lawyer and Vice General Secretary, Mr. Antonino Intersimone, Engineer and Director of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, and Father Felice Bruno, Office Manager of the Post and Philately Service.

I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Father Francesco Mazzitelli, former Vice Office Manager of the Service, for his support of this philatelic issue.

Thank you also to Ms. Barbara Jatta for hosting us in the Vatican Museums, today.

In his address to the first Ambassador of the United States of America to the Holy See, H.E. William Wilson, on 9 April 1984, Saint John Paul II highlighted that establishing diplomatic relations was a historic moment. The Pontiff said: “the friendly relations that have long existed between the United States and the Holy See are actuated today in a new and special way. Diplomatic ties now formalize, in the way that customarily governs them officially in the international community, a relationship of close collaboration which for many years has already produced fruitful results”.

Today, we are celebrating that historic event with a commemorative stamp. The decision to dedicate a philatelic issue to the anniversary is certainly a sign of the attention and importance that the Holy See and Vatican City State attribute to these diplomatic relations. In fact, celebrating the event with a stamp is like producing a small work of art that will travel the world and bring the message entrusted to it, as a kind of manifesto. I am grateful to the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Services, for making this issue happen.

The roots of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and the Vatican go back further than 1984, dating back to 1788, when George Washington sent a message to Pius VI via Benjamin Franklyn, saying that in the new Republic, the Holy See did not need to ask permission when appointing Bishops.

Since then, much ground has been covered, which allowed us to establish the full diplomatic relations we now have, at the basis of which, are shared principles, shared values and a spirit of good will.

For Vatican City State, this cooperation means being fully committed to defending the human dignity and rights of each person, protecting freedom, promoting justice and defending the truth.

This cooperation consists in carrying forth a dialogue and promoting peace and the search for any means to end all conflicts. On Thursday, 24 September 2015, during a visit to the United States Congress in Washington D.C., Pope Francis addressed the Joint Session, highlighting that, “A nation can be considered great when it defends liberty as Lincoln did, when it fosters a culture which enables people to “dream” of full rights for all their brothers and sisters, as Martin Luther King sought to do; when it strives for justice and the cause of the oppressed, as Dorothy Day did by her tireless work, the fruit of a faith which becomes dialogue and sows peace in the contemplative style of Thomas Merton. Four representatives of the American People, who best expressed the spirit of freedom and social commitment, that distinguishes your country.

I would like to conclude with words from Saint John Paul II’s address to the first Ambassador of the United States of America because I believe they are still relevant: “It is my prayer, Mr Ambassador, that America will not fail to be herself and to renew her identity in fidelity to moral and religious principles, and in service to a world in need of peace and human rights, a world hungry for bread and thirsting for justice and fraternal love. With these sentiments, Mr Ambassador, I ask God to assist you in your mission and I invoke his blessings on the President and all the people of the United States of America”.