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On June 12, 1939, a set of four stamps was placed on sale to commemorate the coronation of the 262nd Bishop of Rome, Pope Pius XII. It was March 12, 1939, and crowd of eighty-five thousand jammed the Basilica of St. Peter while another half million stood in the square outside. Countless millions throughout the world tuned their radios to the Pope's own radio station HJV to witness the coronation of a Pope, the first time in ninety-three years, since the Popes became voluntary prisoners of the Vatican following the fall of Rome. The ceremonies began with the blowing of silver trumpets from the Dome of St. Peter's. A minute later the doors of the basilica opened and a cross-bearer appeared. This was the beginning of a procession of uniformed guards and knights, bishops and cardinals, diplomats and representatives of forty countries, princes and members of the Papal Court. Pope Pius XII was borne on a portable throne following this procession bestowing his blessings upon the crowd as he passed by. The procession halted at the main altar over the tomb of the first Pope. The Pope then descended from his portable throne and seated himself on the Papal Throne near the altar. The cardinals paid their obedience to their new Pontiff after which Pius XII began his Coronation Mass. After the colorful Coronation Mass was concluded the procession reformed and escorted the Holy Father to the balcony overlooking the square where the actual crowning took place (this scene is depicted on the stamps). The new Pope gave his blessing to Rome and to the world. The Pope once again ascended the portable throne to be carried back to the Vatican. The five-hour ceremonies marking the coronation of one of the greatest Popes of Church history had come to a close. |
| (National Philatelic Museum, Volume VII, Number 1, 1954, pages 61-107) We are grateful to the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum for allowing the Vatican Philatelic Society to use the copyrighted text on our website. |
