The Vatican stamp celebrating the anniversary reproduces a painting on canvas made in 1999 by the painter Mario Bogani (1932-2016) and preserved in the Upper Church of the Don Bosco Basilica at Colle Don Bosco (Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Province of Asti). It has a nominal value of 1.30 euros and its dimensions are 40 X 30 millimetres, printed on 21,200 mini sheets of 9 copies each, for a total print run of 190,800 stamps.
The design of the stamp illustrates young John's dream as he himself told it in his Memoirs: "In this dream I seemed to be near my home... a crowd of children were playing there... and quite a few were swearing. When I heard these evil words I jumped immediately amongst them, and tried to stop them by using my words and fists... At that moment a dignified man appeared... his face shone so hat I could not look directly at him. He called me by name, told me to take charge of these children and added these words – ‘You will have to win these friends of yours not by blows but by gentleness and love. Start right away to teach them the ugliness of sin and the value of virtue’...I saw a lady of stately appearance standing beside him. She was wearing a mnatle that sparkled all over... she beckoned me to approach her. She took me kindly by the hand and said , ‘Look’,...Glancing round I realised that the youngsters had all apparently run away. A large number of dogs, goats, cats, bears and other animals had taken their place. ‘This is the filed of your work. Make yourself humble, strong and energetic. And what you will see happening to these animals in a moment, is what you must do for my children... in good time you will understand everything ’".
The cancellation stamp has a circular shape and a diameter of 38 mm. It is an elaborate graphic freely inspired by the theme of the stamp, depicting the young John sleeping surrounded by the figures present in his dream: Jesus, the Virgin Mary, wolves and lambs. The cancellation is completed by the words "the DREAM OF ST JOHN BOSCO", "1824 - 2024", "POSTE VATICANE" and "DIE EMISSIONIS 19.02.2024".
On 19 and 20 February 2024, the post office called "Arco delle Campane" (under the bellchamber of the Basilica) will use the special cancellation in question.
Alternatively, the stamp cancellation, duly stamped by the applicants with the stamps to which the cancellation refers, may be requested from the Cancellation Sector of the Postal and Philatelic Service until 23 March 2024.
On 20 February 2024, the Italian daily "Avvenire" will dedicate a special feature on the history of the stamps dedicated to Don Bosco and the significance of his Dreams.
"Don Bosco's Dream at Nine Years of Age" reads a note issued by the Governorate of Vatican City "was the origin of the vocation of the future founder of the Congregation of Salesians and the inspiring source of his educational philosophy permeated by three principles: reason, religion and loving-kindness. For Don Bosco it was impossible to educate a young person through reason without someone who loved him, understood his problems and supported him in solving them."
The significance of this dream and of the Salesian charism for the universal Church can be well understood from what Pope Francis wrote nine years ago, in the Letter sent to the Rector Major of the Salesians, Ángel Fernández Artime, today Cardinal, on the occasion of another Bicentenary, that of the birth of Don Bosco (1815-2015): "Don Bosco teaches us, first of all, not to look, but to take the front line, to offer young people an integral educational experience that, solidly based on the religious dimension, involves the mind, the affections, the whole person, always considered as created and loved by God."
