Holy Christmas MMXXV

On the occasion of the celebration of Holy Christmas, and coinciding with the conclusion of the Jubilee Year 2025, the Postal and Philatelic Service issues the traditional philatelic series dedicated to the Nativity of the Lord, a theme that has always inspired Christian art, faith, and tradition. The Christmas issue consists of two stamps and a booklet reproducing selected details from the work “The Adoration of the Shepherds” by the Flemish master Pieter van Aelst (16th century), a fine tapestry woven from Raphael school cartoons and now preserved in the Vatican Museums. The artwork depicts one of the most moving and profound moments of the Gospel narrative, in which the shepherds, the first witnesses of Christ’s birth, come to adore the Child, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Through this philatelic series, the Vatican seeks to offer a sign of beauty and contemplation, uniting artistic value with testimony of faith. With the 2025 Holy Christmas stamps, the Holy See renews its tradition of combining art, faith, and culture, spreading throughout the world the message of peace that Christmas continues to bring to the hearts of all people. The €1.30 value portrays the group of shepherds in attitudes typical of traditional Nativity scenes. The €1.35 value depicts the manger scene, featuring the Holy Family accompanied by the ox and the donkey.