2016-11-29 Tue

A €1 commemorative stamp was issued by Vatican City on 17th November to celebrate the 80th birthday of Pope Francis.

He was born on 17th December 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian immigrants Mario and Regina Sivori Bergoglio, and was elected as the pope on 13th March 2013.

The selvedge features a scene from the Vatican city and the papal coat of arms. The stamp features Berzosa’s painting of the pope giving a blessing. In the background, Our Lady of Lujan, patroness of Argentina is featured. Officials stated that the colours used for the stamps represent both Argentina’s blue and white flag as well as Vatican City’s yellow and white flag.