Postal Cancellation Habemus Papam

For the election of the Successor of Peter, the Habemus Papam postal cancellation will be available for postage use.

The Postal and Philately Service of the department of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Governorate announces that it will be possible, immediately after the papal election, to obtain the cancellation postmark at the Vatican Post Office in St. Peter's Square.

The subject of the postmark is a detail taken from "The Primacy of Peter" (Pasce oves meas), a Flemish tapestry by Pieter Van Aelst, based on a cartoon by Raphael Sanzio. Originally intended for the Sistine Chapel, the tapestry is conserved in the Vatican Museums.

Entitled Pasce oves meas the monumental tapestry depicts Christ with some sheep as symbols of his flock. The presence of the sheep probably alludes to the Gospel passage in which the Lord, during an appearance to the disciples after his Resurrection, asks Peter three times: “Do you love me?” and then adds: Pasce oves meas [Feed my sheep]. (Jn 21:15-18)