Emma O’Shea, 11, Blackrock, Swords, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Sadhbh Dennehy, 10, Kildare.
Photo: maxwellphotogrpahy.ie 
WMOF 2018
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has described new stamps commemorating the Papal visit as a fitting tribute to what he hoped would be “a memorable and uplifting visit of Pope Francis to the World Meeting of Families in Ireland — a visit that presents a great opportunity for the Church and the country”.
Speaking at the unveiling of the stamps at WMOF headquarters in Dublin, Dr Martin thanked An Post and welcomed the publications of the new stamps.
Strong demand is expected for a print run of 500,000 (€1) stamps, carrying an image of Pope Francis with a dove taking flight and over 100,000 (€1.50 international) stamps, which feature a family walking together on a beach. The stamps and related stamp product are designed by Dublin-based Vermillion Design.
The stamps went on sale at selected post offices nationwide on Thursday, while specially-designed First Day Covers, stamp miniature sheets and souvenir sheets will also be available from the stamp counters at Dublin’s GPO and online at www.irishstamps.ie.
Popular
A spokesman for An Post said that he believed that the stamps and associated material will be popular with those attending WMOF events, as a general memento of the occasion and as good-value, easy-to-carry souvenirs for family and friends.
He said that the stamps will have considerable interest for the worldwide community of stamp collectors especially those with a speciality interest in religious stamps.
An Post is also issuing complimentary postcards with stamp purchases made from An Post at the GPO Dublin, the RDS, Phoenix Park (Parkgate Street Post Office) Knock Shrine (Knock Post Office) and special date cancels for the RDS, Phoenix Park, and Knock Shrine.
Knights sponsor WMOF Holy Land pilgrims
With less than three weeks to the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, it has emerged that a group of 50 Christian pilgrims will travel from the Holy Land for the celebration of Faith and family life.
Thanks to the generosity of Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Catholics who assist the Church in the Holy Land by supporting the life of local Christian communities there, pilgrims will come from Jordan, Israel, Cyrpus and the Palestinian Territories.
Pilgrims
The Lieutenancy of Ireland of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem donated funds to enable the pilgrims to attend. As well as Latin Rite Catholics, there will also be pilgrims from the Melkite and Maronite Catholic communities as well as members of the Orthodox churches.
Around 40 years ago, Christians made up about 25% of the population of the Holy Land. Today it is only 2% and it is constantly under threat.
Pilgrims from the Holy Land will be led by Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, auxiliary bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
WIN A FIRST DAY COVER!
To celebrate the issue of the special Pope Francis stamps, The Irish Catholic has five First Day Covers to give away. To enter please answer the following question: in what year did Pope St John Paul II visit Ireland?
Answers to be received before Friday, August 10 to Pope Stamp Competition, The Irish Catholic, 23 Merrion Square North, Dublin 2. The first five correct answers will win – please provide your name and postal address.
