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Vatican issues special ‘sede vacante’ stamps only valid until a new pope elected

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With the election of the new pope, the stamps lose the postal value, but the collectible value goes up.

VATICAN CITY, — Vatican post offices and selected collectors’ shops this week started selling special stamps marking the period between Pope Francis’ death and the election of his successor.

The so-called “sede vacante” stamps include an image used by the Vatican in official documents in periods between popes: two crossed keys but no papal headgear. They went on sale Monday and will only remain valid until a new Holy Father appears at the window of St. Peter’s.

Until then, they can be used to send letters, postcards and packages. “With the election of the new pope, they lose the postal value, but the collectible value goes up,” Francesco Santarossa, who runs a collector’s shop across from St. Peter’s Square, said Tuesday.

The Vatican printed stamps in four face values: at 1.25 euros ($1.42), 1.30 euros, 2.45 euros and 3.20 euros. They carry the words “Citta del Vaticano” — Vatican City — and “Sede Vacante MMXXV” – vacant See 2025.

All bear a reproduction of the same image: three angels holding up a canopy shielding the symbolic papal keys against a background of white clouds.

The last time the Vatican issued stamps for the interregnum between popes was in 2012, when Benedict XVI broke tradition and retired. The issuing of sede vacante stamps dates from 1929.


Starting on May 7, cardinals will gather to elect Francis’ successor. It is not known how long the secret election will last.

The 2013 papal conclave, which elected Pope Francis, lasted just two days. It began on March 12 and ended on March 13, as Francis was elected on the fifth ballot. 


Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     



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OBITUARY: Judith Lee (Goodwin) O’Leary

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Judith Lee (Goodwin) O’Leary passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her family on Dec. 24, 2025. Judy leaves behind her daughter, Tara O’Leary MacCarthy and her husband, Kenny; her grandchildren, Dr. Keira (O’Donovan) Martinez and her wife, Dr. Jennifer Martinez, Connor O’Leary and his wife Katherine. Judy is also survived by her two beloved great-granddaughters, Eve Martinez and Saoirse O’Leary, and her loving extended family and dear, life-long friends. Judy was predeceased by many loved ones, including her husband, Capt. Douglas M. O’Leary, son, Captain Brendan M. O’Leary, grandson, Seamus M. O’Leary, parents, Webster and Betty Goodwin, and her brother, Capt. Steven W. Goodwin.

Devoted to the town she loved, Judy worked in the town offices for over 25 years in both the Light Department and the Tax Collector office and took great pride in being a multi-generational Marbleheader. A clever and skilled artist with impeccable taste, Judy poured her love and creative talents into decorating her home, designing and crafting handmade quilts to welcome new babies, and knitting beautiful items that will be cherished by those she has left behind for many years to come. Judy’s quick wit and kindness were among her many qualities that drew others to her and her loving nature, curious spirit and resilience will be remembered always.

Services for Judy will be held on Friday, Jan. 9, at Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., Salem, including visiting hours 9-11 a.m., a memorial service at 11 a.m., followed immediately by a memorial luncheon. For more information and online guestbook, please call the Murphy Funeral Home at 978-744-0497 or visit murphyfuneralhome.com.




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Real Madrid’s seven-year transfer strategy: building the future through youth

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It’s been more than six and a half years since Madrid signed a player over 25 years old as an established star for a significant transfer fee. Players like Antonio Rüdiger (2022), David Alaba (2021), Kylian Mbappé (2024), and Trent Alexander-Arnold (2025) arrived either on free transfers or, in Trent’s case, for a fee paid to Liverpool to secure his early participation in the Club World Cup. Joselu also joined in 2023 for €2 million in a low-cost deal, but it wasn’t considered a major market move.

Season after season since 2019, Real Madrid has focused on youth. The idea is simple: invest in young talent and give the club a decade to mold the squad, while amortizing transfer costs over time. Signing fully developed stars has become rare. In the 2019-2020 season, Hazard, Mendy, and Jovic arrived. Jovic, though young, failed to live up to the early promise.

The player profile Real Madrid are chasing

Players like Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Bellingham, Güler, Endrick, Huijsen, and Carreras all fit the club’s ideal profile, and Dutch midfielder Kees Smit is no exception. He turns 20 on January 20, with his entire career ahead of him. Madrid’s potential move for the AZ Alkmaar starlet would fall far short of the triple-digit fees seen for players like Vitinha or Alexis McAllister, yet he offers the creativity the club believes is crucial for the future.

The strategy at Valdebebas hasn’t changed: stability on and off the field comes from signing young players who can wear the Real Madrid jersey for a decade. Three La Liga titles since 2019, two Champions League trophies, a Copa del Rey, multiple Spanish and European Super Cups, and Club World Cups all reinforce the wisdom of this approach.

LaLiga giants favor youth over experience

Still, Real Madrid faces a challenge heading into next season: reclaiming the midfield spark that has been fading over time. The plan remains to bring in young talent, though there is ongoing debate about whether experience and proven quality should play a role. For now, youth wins, and Kees Smit is at the top of the list.

Real Madrid’s seven-year transfer strategy: building the future through youth
Former Real Madrid academy player Chema Andrés has excelled with Stuttgart in Germany and has been tipped to return.DeFodi Images

Madrid look to the academy

The same philosophy applies to the center-back position. Recent signings have either come from the academy or arrived on free transfers. Homegrown players like Jacobo Ramón at Como, Joan Martínez in Castilla training with the first team, and others such as Victor Valdepeñas – who has already debuted as a left-back – Diego Aguado, and Mario Rivas are being closely monitored.

Chema Andrés is another example, excelling in an accelerated development program in Stuttgart. Gonzalo García’s progress also suggests a path for non-defender academy players to join the first team exists. The door is open for the next generation.

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Cypress captures division crown at Torrey Pines Tourney, Ryan Gov named MVP –

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Cypress players and coaches after winning the tournament championship Tuesday. (Photo courtesy Cypress basketball).

Cypress High School’s boys basketball team won the Governor’s Division at the Torrey Pines Tournament defeating Poway 83-73 Tuesday night.

The Centurions’ Ryan Gov earned MVP honors scoring 32 points and hitting three 3-pointers in the final. Gavin Kroll had 17 points and three 3-pointers. Ethan Mai played tough defense and finished with 10 points, according to Coach Derek Mitchell. 

“I’m proud of the way our team competed on the defensive end all tournament,” Mitchell said. “We had a lot of guys step up and make positive contributions throughout.”

The Centurions begin league play on Friday at Crean Lutheran.

For best view, click on the photo:

Send basketball news to timburt@ocsportszone.com



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Celebrate Vanderbilt’s historic football season with ‘ANCHOR DOWN’ book

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Dec. 31, 2025, 2:33 p.m. CT

An underdog team that won 10 games for the first time. A quarterback who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. Unforgettable victories over a top-10 team and a bitter rival. A lifetime of memories from a season for the ages.

To celebrate Vanderbilt football’s epic season, The Tennessean will craft a hardcover collector’s book about the 2025 Commodores. It’s titled “ANCHOR DOWN: How Heisman Finalist Diego Pavia Led Vanderbilt to its Historic 2025 Season.”

To celebrate Vanderbilt football's first season with double-digit victories, The Tennessean will craft a hardcover collector's book about the 2025 season. It will be titled "ANCHOR DOWN: How Heisman Finalist Diego Pavia Led Vanderbilt to its Historic 2025 Season."

Buy our commemorative Vanderbilt book now!

“ANCHOR DOWN” will chronicle how Vanderbilt, led by Clark Lea on the sidelines and Diego Pavia in the huddle, helped transform a program that hadn’t reached double digits in victories in its history. But the book isn’t just their story. It’s the story of a team that bought in, a staff that never stopped believing and a fan base that finally got to see what Vanderbilt football could become.



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Youth deserve dedicated court time | Opinion

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In response to the article “Youth tennis players ask for first call for courts” (CVN, Vol. 32 No. 14).

I strongly support court time for our youth. The importance of “sports” (and the arts) for our youth in our community is very important for a healthy community.

Ron Mousouris is an asset to our community. We are fortunate he has been instructing tennis to our kids in our community for years. Several kids I know have gotten college scholarships through high school tennis. It keeps our kids engaged in a healthy sport… the more positive opportunities our youth has the better!

We obviously need more pickleball courts. I would be happy to be on a committee working with the city of Carpinteria to locate an open space to locate more courts and possibly more tennis courts?

 



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OUR YOUTH TEAMS READY FOR THE START OF 2026

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A new year, the same routine for our Youth teams, who will be back in action in around ten days’ time, once the festive period is fully behind them, to resume their competitive activity. January brings a number of interesting and demanding fixtures, providing further opportunities to continue their consistent development.

The Women’s Primavera, who closed out 2025 with a run of excellent results, will begin the new year with the second derby of the season, following the Coppa Italia meeting, on Sunday 11 January at the PUMA House of Football. It will be the only home fixture of the month for Zago’s team, who will then face away trips to Parma, on the same weekend as the First Team, and Roma.

The new year also begins on the road for the Under-18s, who will be in action away to Sassuolo around the Epiphany. Their first home fixture will be against Frosinone, in a month that also includes two all-Lombardy fixtures: an away match against Monza and a home game with Cremonese, which will also mark the opening round of the second half of the season.

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Cremonese, away, will also be the first opponents of 2026 for our Under-17s, whose first home fixture will come on the weekend of 17–18 January against Atalanta. One date to circle towards the end of the month is the derby away to Inter, on the same weekend that, with venues reversed, will see AC Milan v Inter for the Primavera. Shared paths, with the same fixture calendar, await the men’s Under-16s and Under-15s: they begin at home against Padova, in a month that will also feature a double away trip to face Cremonese.

Match Kits, clothing, accessories, gift ideas and much more: visit the AC Milan online Store!



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