Witnesses of Hope: Saint Charles de Foucauld

In the context of the Jubilee of Hope in 2025, the Post and Philately Service pays tribute to Charles de Foucauld, to celebrate and honour his journey of lived faith, his silent dialogue with his neighbours and the hope he embodied. Born in Strasbourg in 1858, Charles de Foucauld led a carefree and worldly life as a young man, enlisting in the French army, but carrying within him a deep spiritual restlessness. During an explorative expedition to Morocco, he was struck by the living faith of the Muslims, which ignited in him a desire to rediscover God. Returning to France at the age of 28, he rediscovered the Catholic faith, undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, chose the monastic life among the Trappists and was then ordained a priest. In 1901, he decided to live among the Tuaregs of the Sahara in Algeria, proclaiming the Gospel not so much with words as with the witness of his own life. He thus became a “universal brother”, a meeting point between Christians, Muslims, Jews and non-believers. This issue is a concrete sign of how holiness can spring from humble gestures, profound prayer and a fraternity that embraces every person. Charles de Foucauld is an authentic “Witness of Hope”, whose life continues to inspire, unite different cultures and nourish dreams of fraternity. The miniature sheet, designed by Marco Ventura, features a portrait of St. Charles de Foucauld on the stamp and on the side an allegory of Hope through the representation of a tree bearing fruits in a desert landscape, symbolising talents brought to fruition by following the teachings of the Gospel.