2e visit of Pope Johannes Paulus II to Zaïre, 1985
Pope John Paul II (1920- ) is said to be the most recognized person in the world. He is the most traveled Pope in the 2,000-year history of the Church and speaks eight languages. Born Karol Joseph Wojtyla (pronounced Voy-tee-wah) in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920 to an administrative officer in the Polish army and a former schoolteacher. In 1978, at the age of 58 the College of Cardinals elected him to lead the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first non-Italian chosen as Pope in 456 years and the youngest in this century. At age 61 he suffered serious wounds during an assassination attempt.
Traveled to Africa in 1980 & 1985.
Date of issue: 15 August 1985
Expiration date:
Design:
Printing: CD
Perforation: 13
Size: 44 x 32 mm & 32 x 44 mm
Sheet: 25 (5 x 5)
Marginal inscriptions: 6 silver lines all around, ‘ZAIRE ‘ on top and bottom.
Circulation:
16,000
No 1275. 2 z on 5k, kneeling Pope
No 1276. 3z on 10k, Pope shaking hands with Mobutu
No 1277. 5z on 50k, Pope with Mobutu
No 1278 10z on 100k, Pope blessing child
No 1279 15z on 500k, Pope leading service
No 1280 40z on 800k, Pope behind conference table
The series:
%202e%20visit%20John-Paul%20II_bestanden/image002.jpg)
%202e%20visit%20John-Paul%20II_bestanden/image004.jpg)
The imperforated series is in size and coloring exact the same as above:
Remark: the white border around these stamps is much larger when cut from a side, top, bottom or corner of a sheet.
%202e%20visit%20John-Paul%20II_bestanden/image006.jpg)
No 1281. 50z (always from block 60)
%202e%20visit%20John-Paul%20II_bestanden/image008.jpg)
Block 60. Perforated. Circulation: 16,000
%202e%20visit%20John-Paul%20II_bestanden/image010.jpg)
Block 60. Imperforated
%202e%20visit%20John-Paul%20II_bestanden/image012.jpg)
No 1276. Reversed overprint
%202e%20visit%20John-Paul%20II_bestanden/image014.jpg)
No 1280. Misplaced overprint
%202e%20visit%20John-Paul%20II_bestanden/image016.jpg)