Pontificate of Pope Francis MMXXIV - €1.25

The commemorative series dedicated to the Pontificate of Pope Francis is inspired by the theme of the year: prayer. The Holy Father has expressed his desire for the Holy Year to be preceded by an intense period of prayer, experienced as an intimate and profound dialogue with the divine. This connection offers us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the presence of the Lord, to listen to Him and praise Him, adopting an attitude that stands in stark contrast to the self-centeredness of contemporary culture, which distracts us from God and from what is truly essential. Through prayer, we can rediscover and strengthen our connection with the spiritual dimension, foster our inner growth, and change our perspective, since the link between prayer and action is essential to creating a better and more inclusive world. To celebrate the Year of Prayer, the four stamps in the pontificate series depict moments of deep contemplation by the Holy Father: the €1.25 stamp shows him praying in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on March 14, 2013, the day after his election; the second stamp features the Pope kissing the crucifix on Good Friday in 2019; the €2.45 stamp portrays him in prayer with the rosary held close to his heart at Saint Mary Major (May 4, 2013). Finally, the last stamp captures the Pope in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the Corpus Christi celebration on June 18, 2017.