As of this Tuesday, May 16, Italy’s post offices will have a new stamp commemorating the pontificate of Benedict XVI.

In this new stamp issued by the Republic of Italy appears an image of the Pontiff together with the dates of his pontificate, from 2005 to 2013, when he resigned as Bishop of Rome.

It should be recalled that on January 31, 2023, one month after the death of Benedict XVI, the Vatican also issued a commemorative postage stamp of Pope Emeritus. The Pontiff departed to the Father’s house on December 31, 2022, at the age of 95.

The Vatican Postal and Philatelic Service issued a unique stamp “in memory of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI,” which could be purchased at the post office of the Holy See until March 4, 2023.

The stamp showed a photograph of Benedict XVI taken during his visit to the Aosta Valley on July 21, 2009.

The Holy See put 105,000 of these 40 x 30 mm postage stamps into circulation. Along with the postage stamp, the Vatican Post Office also issued a special postmark with an illustration of Benedict XVI’s tombstone.

This article was originally published on ACI Prensa.