On June 18, 1985, Vatican City issued a series of stamps in honor of the 43rd International Eucharistic Congress, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, August 11-18, 1985. The Permanent Committee of International Eucharistic Congresses selected the theme -- "The Eucharist and the Christian Family." Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) confirmed it.
The series consists of four values: 100-, 400-, 600-, and 2,300- lire. The inscription XLIII CONGRESSO EUCARISSTICO INTERNAZIONALE surrounds the illustration and the symbol of the Congress, which appears in the upper right corner. The inscription NAIROBI 85 appears at the top of each illustration. The words POSTE VATICANE and the denomination appear along the bottom.
Sketches by Tullio Mele inspired the illustrations. The 2,300-lire stamp depicts a Christian family looking at the Cross and Host.
The stamps are vertical in format, measure 30 x 40 mm, and have a perforation of 13 1/4 x 14. The Italian State Polygraphic Institute and Mint printed 800,000 complete series on white chalky paper in multicolor photogravure and recess print. The Vatican issued the stamps in sheets of twenty.
"Forty-Third International Eucharistic Congress - Nairobi." Vatican Notes 34, no. 2 (September 1985): 9.
