My Favorite Postcards

Papa Francesco (Pope Francis)
Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Citta del Vaticano (Vatican City)
13 Marzo 2013  (March 13, 2013)

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Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936, is as of March 13, 2013 the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church.

He is the first pope from South American.
 


Vatican City (Citta del Vaticano) stamps 2011
from the series: Travels of Pope Benedict XVII
Malta 17-18 Aprile (April) 2010 - 0,60
Cipro (Cyprus) - 4 - 6 Giugno (June) 2010  - 1,40

Citta Del Vaticano (Vatican City)

Swiss Guards

unused, bought in 2009

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Swiss Guards is the name given to the Swiss soldiers who have served as bodyguards, ceremonial guards, and palace guards at foreign European courts since the late 15th century. They have had a high reputation for discipline, and loyalty to their employers. Apart from household and guard units, regular Swiss mercenary regiments have served as line troops in various armies; notably those of France, Spain and Naples up to the 19th century.  Today the name Swiss Guards generally refers to the Pontifical Swiss Guard of Vatican City.

The Papal Swiss Guard now in the Vatican City State was founded in 1506 and is the only Swiss Guard that still exists.