PhilPost to issue John Paul beatification stamps

MANILA, Philippines - Beginning tomorrow, devotees of Blessed Pope John Paul II can purchase special stamps released by the Philippine Postal Corporation featuring his beatification last May 1.

The PhilPost yesterday announced they printed 140,000 copies of the special stamps.

A total of 7,000 pieces of souvenir sheets with a denomination of P40 will also be issued.

The PhilPost earlier said it intends to come out with stamps honoring the late pontiff, as suggested by a philatelic organization.

But this is not the first time that the PhilPost is issuing Pope John Paul II commemorative stamps.

It printed stamps during his two visits to the Philippines in 1981 and 1995, and at the time of his death in 2005.

Also in 2005, PhilPost launched a traveling exhibit for the pope.

The “Love and Prayers for the Pope” Philatelic and Photo Exhibit was brought to various schools and churches nationwide.

The project was done with the support of then Philippine Ambassador to Rome Henrietta de Villa.

Aside from featuring the stamps released by PhilPost, the exhibit also showed the Pope’s biography, last will and testament, travels, prayers, writings and photos.

Popel John Paul II was born Karol Josef Wojtyla on May 18, 1920 in Krakow, Poland. He was the second of two sons of Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska.

On Oct. 16, 1978, at the age of 58, the College of Cardinals elected him to lead the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first non-Italian chosen as Pope.

The 10th World Youth Day in the Philippines in 1995 would always be remembered as the WYD with the biggest crowd.

An estimated four million people attended the Mass officiated by Pope John Paul II at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

On April 2, 2005, people around the world mourned his passing.