On September 29, 1989, Vatican City issued a series of stamps commemorating the 44th International Eucharistic Congress. The series consists of four values: 550-, 850-, 1,000-, and 2,500-lire.
The 44th International Eucharistic Congress took place at Seoul, South Korea, October 5-8, 1989. The theme of the Congress was "Christus Pax Nostra" ("Christ Our Peace").
The 550-lire stamp depicts the logo of the Eucharistic Congress: the bread broken for the life of humanity and the cross that unites heaven and earth as well as all people on earth. The 850-, 1,000- and 2,500-lire stamps feature three different representations of the symbol of the Eucharist.
H. Shim designed the stamps. The Italian State Polygraphic Institute and Mint printed 450,000 complete series, and they were released in sheets of twenty. The stamps are vertical in format, measure 30 x 40mm, and have a perforation of 13 1/4 x 14. The firm produced them on white chalky paper in multicolor photogravure and recess print. Along the top of each stamp appears the inscription 44th CONGRESSO EUCARISTICO INTERNAZIONALE - SEOUL 1989. At the bottom appear the inscription CHRISTUS PAX NOSTRA, the words POSTE VATICANE, and the denomination.
