2022 Vatican Pope Paul VI BU 2 Euro

125th anniversary of Pope Paul VI

Paul VI was the 262nd Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and head of the Vatican City State from 1963 to 1978. Because of his formative role in the course of the Second Vatican Council, its decision-making and the implementation of its decisions, he is considered by some to be the actual “Pope of the Council”.

From Pope Paul VI’s closing address at the Second Vatican Council : For the Catholic Church, no one is foreign, no one is excluded, no one is distant. We also address this universal greeting of ours to you, people who do not know us; people who do not understand us; people who do not believe us to be useful, necessary and friendly to you; and also to you, people who, thinking for yourselves to do so much good, are hostile to us! A sincere greeting, a special greeting, but full of hope; and today, believe it, full of appreciation and love.

Vatican City has issued this Euro coin on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the birth of Pope Paul VI. The motive of the coin features Pope Paul VI with his arms outstretched and a smiling expression on his face. It is one of the most famous gestures of the former Pope that he always made to greet the crowd. The inscriptions “CITTA’ DEL VATICANO”, “1897-2022” and “PAPA PAOLO VI” are also included in the design. Giovanni Battista Montini was born in Concesio in 1897 and was elected Pope in 1963 with the name Paul VI.