Canada Post has not issued a stamp featuring Pope Francis, even during his significant 2022 visit to Canada. This contrasts with numerous countries worldwide that have commemorated his papacy through postage stamps.
The 2022 visit, announced in May and occurring in July, was organized swiftly following Pope Francis’s meetings with Indigenous leaders in March. This urgency aimed to address the Catholic Church’s role in the residential school system and to foster reconciliation with Indigenous communities. The expedited planning likely contributed to Canada Post’s decision not to issue a commemorative stamp, as the typical design and approval process for new stamps often spans 12 to 24 months.
Historically, Canada Post has been cautious in depicting living foreign figures on stamps. The only papal commemoratives issued were for Pope John Paul II’s 1984 visit and the 2002 World Youth Day in Toronto. This conservative approach may have influenced the absence of a stamp honoring Pope Francis.
In contrast, many countries, including Argentina, Italy, the Philippines, and Iraq, have released stamps celebrating various aspects of Pope Francis’s papacy, such as his international visits and messages of peace. The Vatican itself has issued numerous commemoratives featuring Pope Francis over the years.
As the world reflects on Pope Francis’s legacy following his passing on April 21, 2025, the question remains whether Canada Post will choose to honor him posthumously. Such a decision would align with practices in other nations and acknowledge the historical significance of his 2022 visit to Canada.
Look for the full story in the next issue of CSN, where we highlight the stamps, countries, and contexts that defined Pope Francis’s philatelic legacy around the world.