Latest news with #VaticanPostOffice
IOL News
4 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Pope Leo XIV receives 100 kilograms of letters daily
Pope Leo XIV arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time after being elected to take over from the late Pope Francis on May 8. Image: Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP Leo XIV has not long been pope, yet the American head of the Catholic Church already receives 100 kilograms of letters a day, faithfully sorted by the Italian post office. Missives from around the world, addressed to "His Holiness" in flowing cursive, in stark block capitals or in scrawls, are sorted into a series of yellow crates in a vast hangar near Rome's Fiumicino airport. Robert Francis Prevost was a relatively unknown churchman when he was elected pontiff on May 8, but vast numbers of the faithful are penning him letters of support and pleas for him to pray on their behalf. "We receive hundreds of letters a day addressed to the pope, with peaks of 100 kilos per day, or an average of 500 to 550 kilos per week," Antonello Chidichimo, director of the sorting centre, told AFP. "There are many letters written by children, postcards, and it's wonderful to see that in the digital age, many people still use a pen to write to the pope," he noted. Bearing colourful stamps, the day's letters -- one of which is decorated with hand-drawn red hearts -- arrive from as far afield as Andorra, Brazil, Cameroon, Hong Kong or the US. After being sorted by machine -- or by hand if a hand-written address is indecipherable -- the mail is collected by a van that delivers it the same day to the Vatican, about 20 kilometres away. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Pilgrims and tourists visiting the Vatican can also write to the pope and drop their letters directly -- no stamp needed -- at the Vatican Post Office, where it is collected four times a day. "Many of those who drop off these letters come from South America or Asia," Nicola Vaccaro, an employee at the central office in St Peter's Square, told AFP. "They mainly write to ask for intercession (prayers) for a sick person or a loved one," he said. Among the letters and packages, Vaccaro has even seen someone post the pope a teddy bear. Behind the walls of the world's smallest state, the mail is centralised and sorted by the Secretariat of State, which performs standard security checks before delivering it to the pope's inner circle. Senders who provide their address can expect a response -- from the Vatican or on rare occasions the pontiff himself. Leo's predecessor Pope Francis, who received a bumper postbag as he battled ill health before his death earlier this year, had been known to answer some letters in person. His handwritten notes were scanned by his private secretary who then sent them -- by email. THE MERCURY
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Italy sorts vast piles of post for popular Pope Leo
Leo XIV has not long been pope, yet the American head of the Catholic Church already receives 100 kg of letters a day, faithfully sorted by the Italian post office. Missives from around the world, addressed to "His Holiness" in flowing cursive, in stark block capitals or in scrawls, are sorted into a series of yellow crates in a vast hangar near Rome's Fiumicino airport. Robert Francis Prevost was a relatively unknown churchman when he was elected pontiff on May 8, but vast numbers of the faithful are penning him letters of support and pleas for him to pray on their behalf. "We receive hundreds of letters a day addressed to the pope, with peaks of 100 kilos (220 pounds) per day, or an average of 500 to 550 kilos per week," Antonello Chidichimo, director of the sorting centre, told AFP. "There are many letters written by children, postcards, and it's wonderful to see that in the digital age, many people still use a pen to write to the pope," he noted. Bearing colourful stamps, the day's letters — one of which is decorated with hand-drawn red hearts — arrive from as far afield as Andorra, Brazil, Cameroon, Hong Kong or the US. After being sorted by machine — or by hand if a hand-written address is indecipherable — the mail is collected by a van that delivers it the same day to the Vatican, about 20 km away. Pilgrims and tourists visiting the Vatican can also write to the pope and drop their letters directly — no stamp needed — at the Vatican Post Office, where it is collected four times a day. "Many of those who drop off these letters come from South America or Asia," Nicola Vaccaro, an employee at the central office in St Peter's Square, told AFP. "They mainly write to ask for intercession (prayers) for a sick person or a loved one," he said. Among the letters and packages, Vaccaro has even seen someone post the pope a teddy bear. Behind the walls of the world's smallest state, the mail is centralised and sorted by the Secretariat of State, which performs standard security checks before delivering it to the pope's inner circle. Senders who provide their address can expect a response — from the Vatican or on rare occasions the pontiff himself. Leo's predecessor Pope Francis, who received a bumper postbag as he battled ill health before his death earlier this year, had been known to answer some letters in person. His handwritten notes were scanned by his private secretary who then sent them by email.
Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
- General
- Int'l Business Times
Italy Sorts Vast Piles Of Post For Popular Pope Leo
Leo XIV has not long been pope, yet the American head of the Catholic Church already receives 100 kilogrammes of letters a day, faithfully sorted by the Italian post office. Missives from around the world, addressed to "His Holiness" in flowing cursive, in stark block capitals or in scrawls, are sorted into a series of yellow crates in a vast hangar near Rome's Fiumicino airport. Robert Francis Prevost was a relatively unknown churchman when he was elected pontiff on May 8, but vast numbers of the faithful are penning him letters of support and pleas for him to pray on their behalf. "We receive hundreds of letters a day addressed to the pope, with peaks of 100 kilos (220 pounds) per day, or an average of 500 to 550 kilos per week," Antonello Chidichimo, director of the sorting centre, told AFP. "There are many letters written by children, postcards, and it's wonderful to see that in the digital age, many people still use a pen to write to the pope," he noted. Bearing colourful stamps, the day's letters -- one of which is decorated with hand-drawn red hearts -- arrive from as far afield as Andorra, Brazil, Cameroon, Hong Kong or the US. After being sorted by machine -- or by hand if a hand-written address is indecipherable -- the mail is collected by a van that delivers it the same day to the Vatican, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) away. Pilgrims and tourists visiting the Vatican can also write to the pope and drop their letters directly -- no stamp needed -- at the Vatican Post Office, where it is collected four times a day. "Many of those who drop off these letters come from South America or Asia," Nicola Vaccaro, an employee at the central office in St Peter's Square, told AFP. "They mainly write to ask for intercession (prayers) for a sick person or a loved one," he said. Among the letters and packages, Vaccaro has even seen someone post the pope a teddy bear. Behind the walls of the world's smallest state, the mail is centralised and sorted by the Secretariat of State, which performs standard security checks before delivering it to the pope's inner circle. Senders who provide their address can expect a response -- from the Vatican or on rare occasions the pontiff himself. Leo's predecessor Pope Francis, who received a bumper postbag as he battled ill health before his death earlier this year, had been known to answer some letters in person. His handwritten notes were scanned by his private secretary who then sent them -- by email. A decidcated sorting area in the technical area of Rome's Fiumicino Airport allows Italian postal workers to handle the pope's huge letterbox AFP Many of the faithful that write to Pope Leo XIV receive replies from the Vatican AFP
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Time of India
As the world mourns Pope Francis, explore 5 intriguing travel facts about Vatican City
Sad news coming from Vatican City! The world is mourning for Pope Francis (the religious head of over 1.4 billion Catholics living across the globe), who passed away today at the age of 88. He was the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church and was a renowned spiritual figure. As per the latest updates, soon after the announcement of this death, people began to gather in St. Peter's Square, and several were seen crying in the streets. His death comes just a day after he made an appearance in St. Peter's Square, greeting the world "Happy Easter". For those who don't know, the Vatican City State in Europe is ruled by the Pope, who is the bishop of Rome and the leader of the Catholic Church. It is a religious state, meaning it is governed by church leaders. Vatican City may be the world's smallest country, but it offers the most unforgettable traveling experiences. From mythic architecture and sacred sites to secret treasures and cultural gems, every nook and cranny of the country is imbued with history. Here are some quick, interesting facts that will help you know what not to miss in Vatican City. The world's smallest country: You'll be shocked to know that Vatican City is a mere 44 hectares, but it has colossal worldwide influence. A part of Rome, it even has its currency, flag, stamps, and even a radio station. Stepping into Vatican City means entering another world, as its cobblestone roads convey centuries of faith and history. Now, it is the Catholic Church's administrative and spiritual headquarters, with Pope Francis upholding centuries of papal custom. St. Peter's Basilica: The circumference of St. Peter's Basilica dome is a highlight of the tour for most visitors. The reward after a long climb of over 500 stairs is breathtaking views of Vatican City. Inside the basilica, breathtaking architecture and Michelangelo's paintings are an experience to remember. Pope Francis used to address worshippers from here, who would gather in St. Peter's Square below, turning the space into a living testament to unity, religion, and connection between visitors and the heart of the Church. Vatican Post Office (Poste Vaticane): One of the most fascinating attractions in Vatican City is its post office. It's said to be more efficient than Italy's and allows tourists to send postcards and letters from the smallest country in the world. Stamp and memorabilia collectors also flock here to get Vatican-exclusive stamps and souvenirs. While the majority of tourists are keen to send something back home, few know that the Vatican gets thousands of letters every day—prayers to personal stories. Some of them even reach Pope Francis, and he reads and answers a few devoted ones. Pontifical Swiss Guard: The Vatican Swiss Guard is the oldest, continuously operating military force in the world responsible for the security of the pope. Wearing bright shades, they make a prime spot for photo ops by visitors to Rome, but their work is not a joke—the Swiss Guard are trained fighters, charged with defending the Pope. Vatican Museums: The Vatican Museums stretch over 7 kilometers and house one of the richest art collections on the planet, from Egyptian antiquities to Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. They're an odyssey of history and imagination for the viewer. Highlights are the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and the winding staircase on departure. Pope Francis has been calling for more access to the museums, even opening them at night during special occasions, calling on people to appreciate art as a universal language, speaking above religion or borders
