Home
 
Holy Year is a year during which a solemn plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under certain conditions. Holy Years are ordinary when they occur at regular intervals (every 25 years in modern times) and extraordinary when they are proclaimed for some very special reason, such as the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015-2016. An ordinary Holy Year begins on December 24, with first vespers of Christmas. On this day, the Holy Doors of the four basilicas are simultaneously opened. Conditions for the jubilee indulgence include confession made especially for gaining the jubilee indulgence; communion, and visits to the four major basilicas, for those who are in Rome, but elsewhere, to churches designated by the local ordinary. Each papal document of proclamation specifies the exact conditions of the jubilee. Local ordinaries receive faculties to dispense from these conditions all those who are unable to fulfill them. 
 
In preparation for Holy Year 2000, Vatican City issued a series of stamps in 1998, 1999 and 2000 to recognize the popes who celebrated past Holy Years. The 2000 issue consisted of 9 stamps that featured specific popes from 1750-2000 as well as 9 attached seals which depict their Coat of Arms. At the top of the stamps is the Holy Year and the pope who celebrated it. At the bottom of the stamp are the Papal Tiara and Crossed Keys and the stamp value. The Coat of Arms seal features the Holy Year, the pope's name before and after his election, and the years of his birth and death. The values of the stamps and the popes featured are as follows: 300 lire - Pope Benedict XIV (Holy Year 1750), 400 lire - Pope Pius VI (1775), 500 lire - Pope Leo XII (1825), 600 lire - Pope Pius IX(1875), 700 lire - Pope Leo XIII (1900), 800 lire - Pope Pius XI (1925), 1,200 lire - Pope Pius XII(1950), 1,500 lire - Pope Paul VI (1975), 2,000 lire - Pope John Paul II (2000)  This brings us to the Holy Year of 2000, celebrated by Pope John Paul II. Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 1141-1150 Date Issued - 4 February 2000 Face Value - £300 £400 £500 £600 £700 £800 £1200 £1500 £2000 Perforations - 13.75 Printing Process - offset (sheets of 5 stamps and 5 labels) Printer - Bundesdruckerei Gmbh (Germany) Max Printed - 450,000 stamps and 250,000 souvenir sheets |
| (Source - Vatican Notes: Volume: 48 Issue: 6 Page: 1&4 CLICK HERE to view 'The Vatican Notes Article') |
