Vatican Issues Street Art Stamp Without Artist's Knowledge

The Vatican has issued a 1.15 euro postage stamp for Easter 2020 featuring a street art reinterpretation of Heinrich Hofmann's "Ascension" (1824-1911), located near Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II in Rome. The stamp, produced in about 80,000 copies, was spotted by Mauro Olivieri, director of the Philatelic and Numismatic Office, while riding a scooter. The unsigned poster includes the secular motto "Just Do It" on the Redeemer's robe. The anonymous artist is Alessia Babrow, who was unaware her work was used on an official Vatican stamp. The initiative reflects Pope Francis's church renewal program embracing contemporary visual language.