The Vatican has officially issued a commemorative postage stamp honoring the first anniversary of the election of Pope Leo XIV, marking one year since his election to the Chair of Saint Peter on May 8, 2025. The special philatelic release was announced by the Vatican City State Postal and Philatelic Service and issued on May 8, 2026.

The €1.35 stamp features a portrait of Pope Leo XIV created by Spanish religious artist Raúl Berzosa. In the background appears Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, whose gaze is directed toward the Pope as a symbol of maternal protection. Vatican officials described the issue as a tribute to the first year of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.

A special commemorative postmark was released alongside the stamp. It depicts Pope Leo XIV in prayer and includes the inscriptions “Papa Leone XIV – I Anniversario dell’elezione,” “Die emissionis 08.05.2026,” and “Poste Vaticane.”

The release forms part of a broader Vatican philatelic program dedicated to significant religious, historical, and cultural milestones. Vatican postal authorities had previously announced that the first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate would be among the major commemorative themes for 2026.

Collectors and Catholic faithful have shown strong interest in the issue, which follows earlier stamp series released during the first year of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. Those earlier editions portrayed key moments from his election and early ministry, including his first appearance from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and his first Mᴀss with the College of Cardinals.

The anniversary stamp is being viewed not only as a collector’s item but also as a symbolic tribute to the Pope’s first year of leadership, a period marked by frequent appeals for peace, human dignity, interreligious dialogue, and ethical reflection on emerging technologies.