Christmas 2021
Adam Piekarski

Christmas 2021 was at the center of the special Amoris Laetitia Family Year that concluded with the Tenth World Meeting of Families that took place in Rome from 22 to 26 June 2022. Speaking of Christmas in Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis writes: "This is the mystery of Christmas and the secret of Nazareth, exuding the beauty of family life!" The postage stamps for this issue are characterized by this ecclesial atmosphere. The €1,10 stamp depicts the Magi who came to Bethlehem to adore the Divine Child. The €1,15 stamp features the child Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph, who holds a staff at the top of which there is a spikenard flower, the symbol chosen by Pope Francis to represent the Holy Patriarch in his coat of arms. The author of the two paintings is Adam Piekarski, a young Polish painter who is homeless. In order to depict the Magi, the artist took inspiration from some of his fellow companions in difficulty. Two of them are more or less recognizable, the third is not, representing everyone. With this small initiative, the Vatican's philatelic service wishes to offer a more concrete presentation of the Lord's birth by promoting assistance for our disadvantaged brothers and sisters. Almost always, the postage stamp issue dedicated to Christmas also includes a booklet (18,000 printed). The Vatican's 30th booklet contains two sets of stamps. The cover features a new rendition of the logo created for this special year, drawing inspiration from the one of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 1783 - 1784a Date Issued - 09 November 2021 Face Value - €1,10, €1,15 Perforations - 13.66x13.77 Printing Process - Offset, 4 colors; Offset, 5 colors Booklets Printer - Printex (Malta) Max Printed - 55,000 Stamps

(Source - Vatican Notes: Volume: 70 Issue: 391 Page: 4-6)