1989 Actually the theme is for the mission of the layman to participate in world affairs and in the Church as well. The Irish title is for the green background.
Having been born and raised in Louisiana, I am familiar with that image of the pelican feeding its chicks as it is on the State flag of Louisiana. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Louisiana.svg
And thank you sir for posting that beautiful set with that 100 lire coin. I never knew that image of the pelican existing anywhere else until you shared. I love CT!
As for the significance of the pelican in religious contexts, here is an interesting bit: "In medieval Europe, the pelican was thought to be particularly attentive to her young, to the point of providing her own blood by wounding her own breast when no other food was available. As a result, the pelican came to symbolise the Passion of Jesus and the Eucharist (...) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelican#Christianity Christian
Never knew that Christian....Thanks. By the way, your avatar, the Da Vinci inspired Italian 1 Euro piece is a coin I picked up here last month in Al Ain, UAE. Talking coins with hotel staff and bellman shared a bag of coins he has gotten in lieu of paper money. He said he can take paper to money changer but no one will take his coins.... (until I came along of course)...
