The Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office recently unveiled a special postage stamp to commemorate Saint Teresa.
The Director of the Philatelic and Numismatic Office in the Vatican,
Mauro Olivieri, explains his role and the process involved in creating
this special stamp.
MAURO OLIVIERI - Director, Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office
"The
process of making a postage stamp depends on the typography. There are
various ways of graphically reproducing the stamp. We are currently
using the technology that we have available. We also work with a graphic
design studio that is close to our office.”
Aside from having a graphics design team, the Vatican also brought on a local artist from Rome.
Patrizio Daniele is
responsible for replicating the diminutive saints likeness, along with
her iconic white and blue-trimmed sari and glowing smile.
MAURO OLIVIERI - Director, Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office
"This
postage stamp was not originally published in our program. Even though
we knew that Mother Teresa would be canonized, we did not have an exact
date. We thought that it would probably take another three to four
months and that her canonization would take place in 2017.”
Saint
Teresa is seen as a symbol of humility and strength, in a world she
comforted with service to others, especially to those most in need. The commemorative stamp costs 95-cents in euros.
It is projected that a maximum of 150,000 sheets of 10 stamps each will
be in circulation. Over the years, the Vatican has acquired a
reputation for providing one of the best postal systems in the world.
MAURO OLIVIERI - Director, Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office
"For
the occasion of Mother Teresa's canonization, the administrative
department decided to also dedicate a silver coin. A medallion that
shows an image of Mother Teresa planting a seed in a barren piece of
land that becomes fertile with her saintly intervention.”
The
philatelic and numismatic office said it would also release a special
commemorative bronze coin of Pope Francis praying and a silver coin of
the "saint from the gutter” and of peoples hearts, Mother Teresa.