Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected pope on 13 March 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He chose "Francis" as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis had a close relationship with the Maltese following his visit to Malta and Gozo in 2022, followed by his appointment of Bishop Mario Grech to the rank of cardinal on 28 November of that same year.
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. His final resting place will be in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
In memory of this humble pope, MaltaPost shall issue a new stamp on Saturday, 26 April 2025. This stamp will be issued in a sheet of 10, each measuring 31mm x 44mm, with a comb perforation of 14.1 x 14.2 and containing the Maltese Cross watermark. The sheets measure 182mm x 115mm and were produced by Printex Limited in the offset process. The issue consists of 25,000 stamps, each bearing a denomination of €1.50.
The new stamp will be available from all Post Offices in Malta and Gozo as from Saturday, 26 April 2025. Orders may be placed online at www.maltaphilately.com or by mail from the Philatelic Bureau, MaltaPost p.l.c., 305, Qormi Road, Marsa, MTP 1001; by telephone 2596 1740 or via e-mail info@maltaphilately.com
Ħarġa Filatelika : Papa Franġisku 1936-2025
Papa Franġisku, mwieled Jorge Mario Bergoglio fi Buenos Aires, ġewwa l-Argentina, ġie elett Papa fit-13 ta' Marzu 2013 wara r-riżenja ta' Papa Benedittu XVI. Huwa għażel "Franġisku" bħala l-isem papali tiegħu f'ġieħ San Franġisk t'Assisi. Papa Franġisku kellu relazzjoni mill-qrib mal-Maltin wara ż-żjara tiegħu f'Malta u Għawdex fl-2022 u l-ħatra tal-Isqof Mario Grech fil-kariga ta' kardinal fit-28 ta' Novembru ta' dik l-istess sena.
Il-Papa Franġisku miet nhar it-Tnejn wara l-Għid, fil-21 ta' April 2025, fl-età ta' 88 sena fir-residenża tiegħu f'Casa Santa Marta ġewwa l-Vatikan u se jkun midfun fil-bażilika ta' Santa Maria Maggiore f'Ruma.
B'tifkira ta' dan il-Papa umli, MaltaPost se toħroġ bolla ġdida nhar is-Sibt 26 ta' April 2025. Din il-bolla se tinħareġ f'folja ta' għaxra, b'kull bolla ta' daqs 31mm x 44mm, b'perforazzjoni ta' 14.1 x 14.2 u għandha "watermark" bis-salib ta' Malta. Kull folja hija ta' daqs 182mm x 115mm u ġiet stampata minn Printex Limited bi proċess offset. Il-ħarġa tikkonsisti f'25,000 bolla tal-€1.50.
Din il-ħarġa filatelika se tkun għall-bejgħ mill-Fergħat Postali f' Malta u Għawdex mis-Sibt 26 ta' April 2025. Ordnijiet jistgħu jsiru onlajn fuq https://www.maltaphilately.com jew bil-posta mill-Philatelic Bureau, MaltaPost p.l.c., 305, Triq Ħal Qormi, Marsa, MTP 1001 - telefon 2596 1740 - email info@maltaphilately.com
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