On the occasion of the 66th International Pilgrimage to Lourdes of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, scheduled from 3 to 7 May 2024, the Poste Magistrali counter located inside the Magistral Palace in Rome, with public entrance from Via delle Carrozze 79, will use the special postmark on 3 May 2024.

The postmark, created by Patrizio Daniele, reproduces an image of the statue of the Crowned Virgin at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. The postmark is completed by the inscriptions “SOVRANO MILITARE ORDINE DI MALTA” and “POSTE MAGISTRALI”, the legend “LXVI PELLEGRINAGGIO INTERNAZIONALE A LOURDES” and the date “3.V.2024”.

Since the Poste Magistrali’s counter will be closed to the public on that day, the use of the stamp for the dispatch of correspondence will exceptionally also be permitted on Monday 6 May 2024.

Items for reposting, individually franked by the sender with stamps belonging to the relevant set, must reach the Poste Magistrali office by 6 July 2024. 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 17 May 2024 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.