300th Anniversary of Propagation of Faith. Congregatio de propaganda fide (III centenario di propaganda fide). (Congregation for the Christian mission, founded by Gregor XV)

Description: Series of 4 stamps, almost identical, but with different holly men and women in the upper right corner. (St. Domenico, St. Francesco, St. Francesco Saverio, St. Teresa d'Avila). In the upper left corner medallion with Gregor XV. Impression 200.000.
Date of issue: June 11, 1923. Issued only on this day in Rome.

In 1622 Gregor XI (1554-1623), Pope from 1621, founded the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide, an organ of the papacy for distribution of money to support Roman Catholic mission throughout the world. It was the first permanent board of control of Roman Catholic foreign mission. The missionary work helped the church recover many of its losses from the Protestant Reformation.

The main motive is the same in each stamp: Jesus commanding the apostles to preach the Gospel in the world with the text: PRAEDICATE EVANGELIUM OMNI CREATURA.
The border panels are almost identical on each stamp. On the top panels the words "III Centenario Di Propaganda Fide", 300th anniversary of propagation of faith, with the year 1622 and 1922 underneath.

On the left border "Italia Gens", the Italian people, and on the right border "Patronato Romano", the Roman patronate. At the bottom left corner the arms of Savoy, and at the top left corner a medallion with the portrait of Gregory XV. Each stamp has different symbol in the right bottom corner and different holy men and women in the top right corner.

---

Date created: 22/03/00 11:42:36