On the occasion of the issue of four stamps from the series “In memoriam – His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI“, the Poste Magistrali counter located inside the Magistral Palace in Rome, with public entrance from Via delle Carrozze 79, will use a special postmark on 16 May 2023.

The postmark, created by Giancarlo Federico, reproduces a detail of the € 1.25 stamp, depicting Benedict XVI on 9 February 2013 in the Vatican Basilica on the occasion of the solemn celebrations for the nine centuries since the promulgation of the solemn Privilege with which in 1113 Pope Paschal II officially recognised the monastic community of the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem. The postmark is completed by the inscriptions ‘SOVRANO MILITARE ORDINE DI MALTA’, ‘POSTE MAGISTRALI’ and ‘GIORNO DI EMISSIONE’, ‘SUA SANTITA’ BENEDETTO XVI IN MEMORIAM’ and the date ’16.V.2023′.

Items for reposting, individually franked by the sender with stamps belonging to the relevant set, must reach the Poste Magistrali office by 14 July 2023. A suitable self-addressed envelope, bearing the Order of Malta stamps corresponding to the ordinary (Posta4) or priority (Posta1) postal rate in force in Italy, must be enclosed for the postmarked items to be returned under cover. For any return by registered mail, please contact Poste Magistrali in advance.

Items to be returned uncovered must reach Poste Magistrali by 31 May 2023 and must be individually marked as “Corrispondenza filatelica” (Philatelic correspondence) on the address side in indelible ink. Should this indication be missing, it will be applied by Poste Magistrali.