As a global project, Postcrossing welcomes people of all beliefs (or none at all), and we know that moments of religious or cultural significance can also have unexpected relevance for postcard and stamp lovers. With the recent passing of Pope Francis, Vatican City has entered a rare sede vacante period — a special moment that brings with it unique stamps and postal traditions, making it an interesting time for postal lovers.
To mark this occasion, we’re sharing a special travel report from Monika (aka MonikMary), a longtime postcrosser and frequent visitor to the Vatican, who found herself in Rome during this historic time. Here’s her story, in her own words:
"Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, brought the sad news of the passing of Pope Francis, aged 88, the beloved leader of the Catholic Church. As a Catholic, this news deeply saddened me. Yet, it also offered a meaningful opportunity to travel once again to Vatican City – not only to attend the funeral of the late Pope but also to commemorate him through postcards and share this unique moment via Postcrossing.
This wasn’t my first trip to the Vatican, nor my first time sending postcards from there (I personally sent 12% of all the official Vatican cards). So you might wonder: what made this visit special?
When the leader of the Catholic Church dies, the Church — and Vatican City as a state — enters a period called sede vacante, Latin for “the empty seat.” This special time follows centuries-old traditions, one of which is the issuance of unique sede vacante stamps. Imagine a country releasing stamps that are only valid for 2–3 weeks — that’s exactly what the Vatican does! The last sede vacante was in February-March 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
Before my trip, I reached out to the Postcrossing team and asked for help sending cards with the Vatican ID (VA). Connecting to local Wi-Fi is nearly impossible in Vatican unless you are a priest or official worker, so this step was necessary.
It took eight days for the Vatican to make the stamps available, and I was finally able to buy them on Monday, April 28, despite asking for them as early as Thursday. But it was possible – and what a joy it was! I got to send postcards not only featuring views of the Vatican or images of Pope Francis, but also adorned with one of the rarest stamps in the world.
There was, however, a challenge. Since October 2024, there’s been an official rule limiting purchases to 10 stamps per person. I showed the postal clerk that I had written over 200 cards (35 of them official Postcrossing postcards) and explained how much I hoped to use sede vacante stamps. She made a phone call, and after reviewing the situation, kindly allowed me to buy the stamps for all my cards. What a relief and a blessing!
Postcrossing is truly about connection, kindness, and respect. I believe Pope Francis would have appreciated our community and the values we share. I like to think he would have enjoyed reading our profiles and getting to know us. Maybe we should invite the next pope to one of our meetings!
PS: If you have any questions about where to buy postcards in Vatican City, stamp prices, or anything about the Vatican Post, Monika would be happy to help — just send her a private message!