VATICAN CITY (CNS) The Vatican will donate to the people of Haiti profits from the sale of a stamp commemorating the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace in Mentorella, Italy. The initiative, promoted by the Vatican stamp and coin office and the office governing Vatican City State, could reap about 150,000 euros (US$211,480) for those affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake, the Vatican said in a press release Jan. 26.
The money earmarked for Haiti will come from a surcharge of .20 euro for each 65-cent stamp commemorating the 1500th anniversary of the Italian Marian shrine.
The Vatican stamp office will issue a total of 900,000 stamps in 150,000 sheets of six stamps each. While not expecting to sell all of the stamps, the office estimated that the initiative would generate about 150,000 euros.