The Vatican 2021 stamps will see 20 sets released covering the usual Christian themes plus a few of a broader interest topics. The Vatican doesn’t offer a lot of different formats or a wealth of details, with the bulk of their issues being single stamps and the odd souvenir sheet. The lack of postmarks is a continuing letdown. As a collector of cancels, I’m always looking for something interesting. The Vatican is missing the boat on this. On the upside, they offer high quality scans of all their material so it’s fun to zoom in and examine the details. 

If you enjoy coins & stamps, then the Vatican will be a treasure trove for you. I’m playing around with the idea of including a few of the coins when there is a connection to a specific stamp. The Dante Alighieri coin and stamp set might look nice here. I know it’s not philatelic, but I suspect a few of my readers might enjoy the little extras. 

I am a disappointed with the Vatican Radio anniversary issue. When I read about the anniversary, I got excited. As an old radio person I was hoping for a vibrant, tribute to the original technology and maybe changes over the years. What we have is a bit of a flabby sheet, in pastel pink, that doesn’t convey a strong identity or impression. They could have done much more. I’m hoping they do a better job with the 450th anniversary of Caravaggio’s birth and Dante stamps. 

Vatican 2021 stamps for February

Pontificate of Pope Francis Year MMXXI
Interfaith Dialogue Efforts of Pope France

4 stamps

With the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Rav Riccardo Shemuel Di Segni, during the visits to the Synagogue of Rome in 2016

• With the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Aḥmad al-Ṭayyib on the occasion of the Apostolic Journey to the United Arab Emirates in 2019
• With the Supreme Patriarch of Buddhists, Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana IX, on the occasion of the Apostolic Journey to Thailand in 2019
• With Hindu leader Ndu-Kurukkal SivaSri T. Mahadeva), during the trip to Sri Lanka in 2015

Release date: Feb. 22, 2021

2nd and 3rd encyclicals of Pope Francis: the Laudato Si’ and the Fratelli tutti

Graphic Cover

Artist: Patrizio Daniele

Release date: Feb. 22, 2021

Easter of Resurrection MMXXI

1 stamp 

Artist: Vitaliy Shtanko

Release date: Feb. 22, 2021

YEAR OF SAINT JOSEPH

1 stamp, mini sheet

Release date: Feb. 22, 2021

150th anniversary of the Congregation for the Canons of the Immaculate Conception

1 stamp

Designer: Vitaliy Shtanko

Release date: Feb. 22, 2021

90th anniversary of the foundation of Vatican Radio and 160th anniversary of the foundation of the Osservatore Romano

2 stamps, 1 mini sheet

Release date: Feb. 22, 2021

Vatican 2021 stamps for May

Europa 2021: National wildlife at risk of extinction

2 stamps

Eurasian wren | Common kestrel

Designer: Graphic department of Poste Vaticane

Release date: May 25, 2021

See all Europa issues for 2021

POSTCARDS: 50th anniversary of the Paul VI Hall

4 postcards

Release date: May 25, 2021

50th Anniversary of the Association of St. Peter and Paul

1 stamp

Designer: Liam Hipple

Release date: May 25, 2021

5th Centenary of the Birth of Pope Sistus V

2 stamps

Painting of Pope Sistus V attributed to Pietro Facchetti

Release date: May 25, 2021

8th centenary of the Way of St. Anthony of Padua

1 stamp, souvenir sheet

Designer: Landmann Girl

Release date: May 25, 2021

500th centenary of the conversion of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

1 stamp, souvenir sheet

Designer: Raúl Berzosa

Release date: May 25, 2021

September

52nd International Eucharistic Congress

2 stamps

Originally planned for 2020 but postponed due to Covid

Release date: September 8, 2021

7th centenary of the death of Dante Alighieri

1 stamp, souvenir sheet of 4

Designer/artist: Gabriele Dell’Otto

Release date: September 8, 2021

450th Anniversary of Caravaggio’s Birth

1 stamp on a souvenir sheet

Martyrdom of St. Matthew 

Photo work: Mauro Coen

Release date: September 8, 2021

Centenary of the foundation of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

1 stamp

Stamp designer: Marco Ventura

Release date: September 8, 2021

3rd Centenary of the Congregation of Passionists

1 stamp

St. Paul of the Cross in the act of writing the rule of the Congregation, preserved in the cell of the church of San Carlo in Castellazzo Bormida 

Release date: September 8, 2021

Fourth Centenary of the Death of St. Robert Bellarmin

1 aerogram 

Release date: September 8, 2021

November

Ideal pilgrimage around the earth on the way to the Jubilee 2025: Oceania

1 stamp on a souvenir sheet

Artist: Patrizio Daniele

Release date: November 9, 2021

IX Centenary of the Abbey of Prémontré

1 stamp

Artist: Unknown @1656. From Premonstratensian abbey of Wilten (Innsbruck)

Release date: November 9, 2021

5th World Day of the Poor

6 stamps on a sheet

Photographer: Riccardo Rossi. Photos on the 2nd World Day of the Poor 

Release date: November 9, 2021

Pope Francis’ Travels – Year 2020

1 stamp

Design based on logo created by Gian Carlo Olcuire

Release date: November 9, 2021

Christmas 2021

2 stamps, souvenir booklet

[The artist} of the two paintings is Adam Piekarski, a young homeless Polish painter who frequents the showers that Pope Francis has opened near the colonnade of St. Peter’s so that all pilgrims entering the Basilica can come across this new service. To portray the Magi, the author wanted to be inspired by his companions of misfortune. Two are more or less recognizable, the third is not, since it represents them all. With this small initiative, Vatican philately wanted to make the Nativity of the Lord more concrete by promoting the redemption of these disadvantaged brothers and sisters of ours. Christmas MMXXI (vaticanstate.va)

Artist: Adam Piekarski

Release date: November 9, 2021

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Pop over to the big page of 2021 stamp issues and pick another country to visit. If we can’t go their physically, we can go their visually.

Stamps by country 2021