600th founding of the Catholic Leuven University (Belgium)

The Post and Philately Service is celebrating the 600th anniversary of the founding of the University of Leuven, one of the oldest Catholic universities in Europe and a symbol of Belgium's long academic tradition. Established on the initiative of Duke John IV of Brabant, with the papal bull “Divina Dis-ponete”, Martin V founded the University of Leuven in 1425, making the Belgian city a centre of culture and research of international importance. One of the university's most famous symbols is the statue of Sedes Sapientiae, the “Seat of Wisdom”, an iconic representation of the Virgin Mary who has watched over students and the academic community for centuries. Located in the university church of St Peter, Sedes Sapientiae embodies the union between faith and knowledge, rooted in the university's educational mission. After six centuries, the Catholic University of Leuven continues to look to the future, remaining faithful to its heritage of intellectual openness, research and dialogue between different fields of knowledge. The illustration created for the stamp by artist Patrizo Daniele. reproduces the two most representative elements of the University: the wooden statue of the Virgin Mary known as “Sedes Sapientiae”, symbol and protector of the university institution, and the effigy of Pope Martin V, who founded the university with the bull “Sapientie immarcescibilis” issued on 9 December 1425.