Slovakia FDC on "Beatification of John Paul II"

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Slovakia

Beatification of John Paul II

Date of Issue : 29 April 2011

John Paul II – with proper name Karol Wojtyla – was born on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. In a conclave on October 16, 1978 the cardinals elected him to be the 264th successor of Apostle Peter – the Pope. He was the first Pope of Slavic origin. His pontificate lasted 26 years, 5 months and 17 days. He died on Saturday in the Easter octave on April 2, 2005.

The Pontificate of John Paul II was the third longest. During this time he made 104 foreign apostolic trips (three of them to Slovakia – in 1990, 1995, 2003), he issued 14 encyclicals, he beatified and canonized 1,340 people.

The beatification process started on May 13, 2005 and on January 14, 2011 Pope Benedict XVI signed a decree of his beatification right after the Congregation for Saints Causes confirmed his first miracle. The Committee confirmed that Pope John Paul II cured a French nun Marie Simon-Pierre from Parkinson’s disease. Benedict XVI set out the date and place of beatification – Rome, May 1, 2011 (Sunday in the Easter octave).

The postage stamp contains the Pope’s portrait. Surcharge on FDC shows the floor plan of the Basilica and St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican and the stamps contain the Pope’s hands folded in prayer, his signature and his slogan TOTUS TUUS – totally yours (Maria).

A really very nice Slovak FDC. I very much like the Pope. My friend was so kind to affix also the John Paul II stamps (in old Slovak currency) of 2003 and 1995 on the FDC. I like it very much ! Thank You very much !