VATICAN CITY (AP) 鈥 Vatican post offices and selected collectors鈥 shops this week started selling special stamps marking the period between Pope Francis' death and the election of his successor.
The so-called 鈥渟ede vacante鈥 stamps include an image used by the Vatican in official documents in periods between popes: two crossed keys but no papal headgear. They went on sale Monday and will only remain valid until a new Holy Father appears at the window of St. Peter鈥檚.
Until then, they can be used to send letters, postcards and packages. 鈥淲ith the election of the new pope, they lose the postal value, but the collectible value goes up,鈥 Francesco Santarossa, who runs a collector鈥檚 shop across from St. Peter鈥檚 Square, said Tuesday.
The Vatican printed stamps in four face values: at 1.25 euros ($1.42), 1.30 euros, 2.45 euros and 3.20 euros. They carry the words 鈥淐itta del Vaticano鈥 鈥 Vatican City 鈥 and 鈥淪ede Vacante MMXXV鈥 - vacant See 2025.
All bear a reproduction of the same image: three angels holding up a canopy shielding the symbolic papal keys against a background of white clouds.
The last time the Vatican issued stamps for the interregnum between popes was in 2012, when . The issuing of sede vacante stamps dates from 1929.
, cardinals will gather to elect Francis鈥 successor. It is not known how long the secret election will last.
