Prisoner of War Series

On September 1, 1942. Vatican City released a set of stamps depicting the Compassionate Christ looking on the multitudes. The set consisted of three values, 25 and 80 centesimi and 1.25 lire, all having the same design. The set was to publicize the efforts of Pope Pius XII on behalf of the Prisoners of War. When all efforts for peace had failed and World War II had begun, Pope Pius XII established the Bureau of Information on War Prisoners and placed it under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State. A volunteer staff composed of 150 priests, nuns, and laymen offered their services to this cause. Representatives of the Holy See in all countries participating in the war were instructed to gather the names and addresses of all prisoners of war that were possible and forward them to the Vatican. This information was then transmitted to the countries of the prisoners' origin. Many times the only information received about the prisoners of war was through the Vatican offices. Hundreds of inquiries were received daily by anxious relatives trying to locate their missing kin. As the war progressed, the work of the Bureau of Information on War Prisoners increased to new heights, forcing it to move to much larger quarters. In the first four years alone the Vatican had located more than forty thousand missing men in arms and forwarded this information to their homes. Throughout the war the Vatican strived to care for the wounded prisoners of war in the prison camps and aided those who escaped to neutral countries. For the duration of the war, Pius XII was constantly pleading with the belligerents to exchange prisoners but it was to no avail. With his request going unheeded, the Rock of Peace continued his efforts to relieve the misery of those affected. On February 14, 1944, a second issue of the Prisoner of War stamps was placed on sale. The designs, values, and colors were identical with the first issue. The only identification being the inscription "MCMXLIII": Second Prisoner of War Issue Scott 84-86 (1944) Again in 1945, a Prisoner of War issue was released. This time the denominations were 1, 3, and 5 Lire to conform with the revised postal rates. Though the design was almost identical with the first two issues, the colors were changed and the stamps bore the inscription "MCMXLIV": Third Prisoner of War Issue Scott 99-101 (1945)

(National Philatelic Museum, Volume VII, Number 1, 1954, pages 61-107) We are greatful to the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum for allowing the Vatican Philatelic Society to use the copyrighted text on our website.