| Added by |
 Bart Perdieus
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| General Description : | Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) was a papal encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII on 11 April 1963. It was the last encyclical drafted by John XXIII, who died from cancer two months after its completion . Pacem in terris was the first encyclical that the Pope did not address to the Catholic faithful only, but also to "all men of good will". In this work, John XXIII reacted to the then political situation in the middle of the Cold War. The "peace encyclical" was issued only two years after the erection of the Berlin Wall and only a few months after the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Pope explains in this encyclical that conflicts "should not be resolved by recourse to arms, but rather by negotiation". He further emphasizes the importance of respect of human rights as an essential consequence of the Christian understanding of men. He clearly establishes, "...That every man has the right to life, to bodily integrity, and to the means which are suitable for the proper development of life..." The document is divided into four sections. The first section of the encyclical establishes the relationship between individuals and humankind, encompassing the issues of human rights and moral duties. The second section addresses the relationship between man and state, dwelling on the collective authority of the latter. The third section establishes the need for equality amongst nations and the need for the state to be subject to rights and duties that the individual must abide by. The final section presents the need for greater relations between nations, thus resulting in collective states assisting other states. The encyclical ends with the urging of Catholics to assist non-Christians and non-Catholics in political and social aspects. |
| Face value | 50 Centimes |
| Catalog code (Michel) | BE 1417 |
| Catalog code | Stamp Number BE 660 Yvert et Tellier BE 1360 Stanley Gibbons BE 1959 AFA number BE 1438 Belgium BE 1360 Unificato BE 1360 |
| Stamp colour | multicolor |
| Stamp use | Commemorative stamp |
| Print run | 9.000.000 |
| Issue date | 12/02/1966 |
| Designer | Oscar Bonnevalle |
| Print technique | photogravure |
| Perforation | 11 1/2 |
| Height | 28.00 mm |
| Width | 39.00 mm |
| Catalog prices | No catalog prices set yet |
