Città del Vaticano | Vatican City

 

Postcard

Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome. 

Joseph Ratzinger, born April 1927, was elected to the papacy on April 19, 2005, upon the death of Pope John Paul II.  In February 2013, at age 85, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would be resigning on February 28, 2013—becoming the first pope in 600 years to step down from his post.

 

Stamp

Vatican City State has issued four stamps with the image of an angel raising the pavilion (“umbraculum”) of the Apostolic Camera, the work of Italian artist Daniela Longo. The use of these stamps as postage is only available during the Sede Vacante, ending with the election of the new Pope.