On June 12, 1986, the Vatican issued a series of stamps to commemorate the centennial of the proclamation of St. Camillus de Lellis and St. John of God as patrons of hospitals and of all sick persons. The series consists of two 700-lire stamps of different designs and one 2,000-lire stamp.
This issue honors two remarkable saints who lived during the Catholic Reformation (1545-1648). Though born in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal, St. John of God (John Ciudad - b. 1495)) spent most of his life in Spain. St. Camillus de Lellis was born in 1550 in Bucchianico in the Abruzzi region of Italy. As young men, both served as soldiers. After leaving the military, both regretted the sinfulness of their youth and chose to devote the rest of their lives to the sick.
In 1539, John Ciudad rented a house in Granada, Spain. There he provided care and shelter for the sick and needy of that city. He proved to be an extremely capable hospital administrator. Many persons came to assist him in his charitable work, and others requested his advice on establishing similar hospitals. At first, he did not intend to establish a new religious order. In time, however, the bishop of Tuy eventually gave him the name "John of God" and recommended that he and his followers wear distinctive clothing. People came to know the new order as the "Brothers Hospitallers." John of God died in Granada on March 8, 1550. Pope Alexander VIII (1610-1691) canonized him in 1690.
Camillus de Lellis twice tried to join the Capuchins (1575, 1579) but was rejected on both occasions because of an ulcerated foot, which the order's coarse habit irritated. This ailment, which plagued him for the rest of his life, inspired him to direct his attention to the sufferings of others. After his final rejection by the Capuchins, he became superintendent of the hospital of San Giacomo, Rome. His spiritual advisor, St. Philip Neri (1515-1595), persuaded him to study for the priesthood, and he was ordained in June 1584. During this period, he founded an order of priests and laymen who provided physical and spiritual care for the sick. This order, the Clerks Regular, wore black habits with red crosses. History credits Camillus with dispatching the first known medical unit to soldiers in the field. He also insisted upon hospital cleanliness and recognized the need to isolate contagious cases. Camillus died in Rome on July 14, 1614, and Pope Benedict XIV (1675-1758) canonized him in 1746.
In 1886, Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) declared St. John of God and St. Camillus de Lellis patrons of the sick and of hospitals. In 1930, Pope Pius XI (1857-1939) declared them co-patrons of all nurses.
One 700-lire stamp depicts St. Camillus de Lellis rescuing a sick person from the flooded Tiber River. A painting by Pierre Subleyras (1699-1749) inspired the stamp's illustration. The inscription S. CAMILLO DE LELLIS PATRONO DEGLI OSPEDALI E DEGLI INFERMI appears at the top of the stamp.
The other 700-lire stamp features St. John of God supporting two sick persons, an illustration inspired by a work of painter Gomez Moreno (1843-1918). At the top appears the inscription S. GIOVANNI DI DIO PATRONO DEGLI OSPEDALI E DEGLI INFERMI.
The 2,000-lire stamp depicts Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) assisting a sick person. At the top appears the inscription 1886-1986 PROCLAMAZIONE A SANTI PATRONI DEGLI OSPEDALI E DEGLI INFERMI. The emblems of the religious orders founded by these two saints appear just below this inscription.
All three stamps include the words POSTE VATICANE at the bottom. Antonello Ciaburro engraved the illustrations. The stamps are vertical, measure 30 x 40 mm, and have a perforation of 13 1/4 x 14. The Italian State Polygraphic Institute and Mint printed 600,000 complete series on white chalky paper in multicolor offset and recess. They were issued in sheets of twenty.
Crimando, Thomas I. "New Issues." Vatican Notes 35, no. 2 (September 1986): 1, 4.
