Pope John Paul II was one of the most beloved and admired world leaders. During more than 26 years as Pope, he was renowned for his compassion and his more than 100 pastoral visits to nations outside Italy. He was born on May 18 1920, elected as Pope on October 16, 1978, and he died on April 2, 2005. The stamp on this Cover is an official Vatican issue that honors Pope John Paul II’s pilgrimage to Mount Sinai in 2000. The stamp shows Mount Sinai as well as St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of the mountain. The cancellation is the official Vatican City postmark of May 18, 2005 - the exact 85th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s birth and the first anniversary of his birth after his death. The one-time-only postmark certifies the stamp as a genuine limited edition. In addition to the stamp and postmark, this Cover also includes the official Pope John Paul II medal that was issued by the U.S. Mint. It was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 2000 as a tribute to Pope John Paul II’s humanitarian service, and the original gold medal was given to Pope John Paul II at the Vatican by a delegation of U.S. Congressmen on January 8, 2001. Pope John Paul II’s coat of arms is shown on the lower right corner of the Cover. |