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On Wednesday 26th March 2014, Taya Pobjoy Managing Director of Pobjoy Mint Ltd, John Smith, CEO, and other members of the family, together with 50,000 pilgrims attended a public audience with His Holiness Pope Francis I at the Vatican City.

With so many in attendance, it was exceptionally difficult to speak directly with His Holiness, but Taya managed to present a coin commemorating his election as Pontiff issued on behalf of the Central Bank of the Seychelles directly to His Holiness, and this is covered in a separate coin press release, including photographs of the presentation.

John Smith was not quite so lucky but as can be seen from the attached photograph, he was able to present to one of His Holiness’ Aides, a framed sheet of Tristan da Cunha Christmas stamps which depict St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Peter’s Basilica and a central label with an image of His Holiness.

John Smith said, that ‘whilst disappointed that he was unable to personally hand the frame to His Holiness, it can be seen that his ADC passed the framed stamps to Pope Francis as he continued his procession amongst those of us near to the Papal Throne, and it is a great honour for one of the smallest and most remote communities in the world which has had a dedicated, if tiny Catholic population, to be able to present such an interesting sheet to the Pontiff.’

Stocks of this sheet, together with a similar sheet depicting St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Canterbury Cathedral and the Archbishop of Canterbury are still available and the full story of the issue may be reviewed on www.pobjoystamps.com or the Tristan da Cunha Post Office website.

Source: Tristan da Cunha Post
Published April 15, 2014