Two stamp panes, postage label honor Pope Francis’ visit to Israel

Israel Post issued a personalized stamp pane and a computer-vended postage label to commemorate the May 25-26 visit of Pope Francis. Another personalized pane is scheduled to be issued after the visit.

The first personalized pane and the computer-vended postage label were issued May 26.

The label shows the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and includes text in English reading “Pope Francis in the Holy Land.”

According to the website of the Israel Philatelic Federation, www.israelphilately.org.il, the label was to be available from the Beit Hakerem post office in Jerusalem.

The personalized pane includes 12 nondenominated stamps showing a beach, and 12 se-tenant labels featuring various Christian sites in Israel. A photograph of Pope Francis is shown in the selvage.

The Beach stamp was first issued Aug. 27, 2007 (Scott 1692).

Starting at upper left and going across, the labels picture the Mount of Olives; the Cenacle, the room of the Last Supper; the Church of All Nations on the Mount of Olives; the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (on two labels); the Tower of David, Jerusalem; Mount Precipice; ruins of the synagogue at Capernaum; the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, Tabgha; the Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth; the Church of the Beatitudes, Tabgha; and the Sea of Galilee.

Israel Post is selling the pane in a folder with text in three languages: English, Hebrew and Spanish.

According to Israel Post, the second personalized pane will be produced shortly after the pope’s visit and will feature photographs from the visit.

Israel Post’s online postal shop is www.israelpost.co.il.