Headlines
Vatican unveils unusual postage stamp honouring Ukraine's Catholics
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
3 min readLast updated: February 26, 2026
Quick Summary
The Vatican launched a new stamp depicting Kyiv’s Resurrection Cathedral in blackout, honoring Ukraine’s Catholics and marking key UGCC anniversaries. The €1.35 issue signals solidarity as the war enters its fourth year.
Vatican Debuts Unusual Stamp Honoring Ukraine's Catholics Amid Blackouts
By Joshua McElwee
Vatican Stamp Marks Ukraine’s Catholic Community
VATICAN CITY, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The Vatican unveiled a new postage stamp on Thursday honouring Ukraine's Catholics, with the design showing their cathedral in Kyiv during a blackout in an unusually pointed reference to the daily struggles of Ukrainians in wartime.
While the Vatican Postal Service frequently issues stamps to mark Catholic holidays or honour national Churches, it usually avoids any political references in its designs, preferring depictions of religious figures such as local saints.
Design and Symbolism
The new stamp, issued in the week that marks the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion, depicts Kyiv's Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ darkened by a lack of electricity but illuminated from behind with the orange glow of an evening sky.
Blackouts have become a common experience across Ukraine as Russia targets the electricity grid, power stations and other energy infrastructure with missiles and drones.
Church Response and Significance
Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, leader of Ukraine's four million Eastern-rite Catholics, said at a Vatican event for the unveiling that the release of the stamp represented "a great moment of consolation".
"We really feel embraced by the Holy See for this particular attention to our history, to our life in this tragic moment of war," Shevchuk said, speaking Italian.
Anniversaries and Wartime Role
The Vatican stamp was released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Kyiv's Catholic diocese after the fall of the Soviet Union and the 12th anniversary of the cathedral's construction.
'CENTRE OF RESISTANCE'
The cathedral has also served as a bomb shelter during the war. Shevchuk called it a "centre of resistance".
Ukraine’s Greek Catholic Population
Around 10% of Ukrainians belong to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which follows Eastern rites but recognises the authority of the pope and is in communion with Rome. A majority of Ukrainians are Eastern Orthodox.
Calls for Peace and Diplomacy
Pope Leo made an impassioned appeal on Sunday for peace in Ukraine, saying an end to the war with Russia "cannot be postponed". The U.S. is trying to broker a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv but so far without success.
Tourism and Stamp Purchases
Tens of thousands of tourists visit the Vatican daily. Many buy stamps at Vatican post office branches, including in St. Peter's Square, often to send postcards home.
Vatican State Context
Face Value and Delivery Scope
Postal Value and Usage
The new stamp carries a value of 1.35 euros ($1.60), the cost of delivery of a regular-size letter to destinations across Europe. The Vatican, a tiny sovereign state within Rome, has maintained an independent postal service since 1929.
Exchange Rate Note
($1 = 0.8472 euros)
(Reporting by Joshua McElweeEditing by Gareth Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •Vatican Postal Service issued a stamp honoring Ukraine’s Catholics, depicting Kyiv’s Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ during a blackout. (vaticanstate.va)
- •The release coincides with the war’s fourth anniversary and commemorates key UGCC milestones, including the 30th year since restoring the Kyiv Metropolis and the cathedral’s 12th anniversary. (vaticanstate.va)
- •Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk called the unveiling a moment of consolation and highlighted the cathedral’s role during the war. (en.wikipedia.org)
- •The stamp carries a €1.35 denomination and is part of a broader set of February 26, 2026 Vatican issues. (vaticanstate.va)
- •The design’s twilight setting underscores Ukraine’s energy hardships amid ongoing attacks on infrastructure. (vaticanstate.va)
Frequently Asked Questions about Vatican unveils unusual postage stamp honouring Ukraine's Catholics
1What is the main topic?
The Vatican released a new postage stamp honoring Ukraine’s Catholics, featuring Kyiv’s Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ depicted during a blackout. (vaticanstate.va)
2Why is this stamp significant?
It marks multiple UGCC anniversaries and highlights wartime hardships in Ukraine, signaling Vatican solidarity during the conflict’s fourth year. (vaticanstate.va)
3What does the design show and what is the value?
The stamp shows Kyiv’s Resurrection Cathedral in twilight due to lack of lighting and has a €1.35 denomination, released on February 26, 2026. (vaticanstate.va)
4Who spoke at the unveiling?
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, praised the release as a moment of consolation. (en.wikipedia.org)
