Pope Francis honored with special stamps
On June 5, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) paid tribute to the late Pope Francis with the launch of the “Pope Francis 1936-2025” commemorative postage stamps.
The stamps show a portrait of the late Pontiff as well as his iconic hand gesture. On the official first day cover, Pope Francis is featured wearing the iconic raincoat he used during his tour of Leyte as part of his Papal visit to the Philippines in 2015. It can be recalled that although his trip was met with heavy rains, “Lolo Kiko” continued his visit, reaching out to the locals who were affected by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan).
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected on March 13, 2013, served as the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of the Vatican City until his death on April 21, 2025. As the first Jesuit Pope in history, his papal ministry was marked by humility, social justice, and global outreach toward minorities like immigrants, LGBTQ community, and those of other religions.
Spiritual humility
In a statement, the post office explained that the stamps highlight the Pope’s spiritual humility and “reflect his strong advocacy for peace, social justice, and environmental stewardship. The format symbolizes the dual aspects of his papal mission and influence across both religious and global humanitarian efforts.”
Postmaster general and CEO Luis Carlos said, “Through this stamp, we are sending a message of unity, love, and faith that transcends borders. It is our humble way of honoring a global religious figure who has touched countless lives, including millions of Filipinos.
“PHLPost has long maintained a philatelic tradition of commemorating significant individuals and historic milestones. Over the years, stamps have marked events such as papal visits, canonizations, and other landmark moments in Catholic and global history. The Pope Francis stamp joins this distinguished collection,” he added.
PHLPost has previously issued several stamps in honor of Pope Francis, including a commemorative stamp in 2015 during his historic apostolic visit to the Philippines, which included a memorable and emotional stop in Tacloban City. In 2014, the post office also released a stamp marking the first anniversary of his papacy, celebrating his early messages of mercy and inclusion that captivated the world.
A total of 20,000 copies of the new commemorative stamp have been printed for this release while there are 1,000 pieces of the Official First Day Cover available. Both the commemorative stamps and First Day Covers are now available for purchase at the Manila Central Post Office and postal counters throughout the nation.
