The Mosaic Medallion of Pope Leo XIV Delivered:

The Vatican Mosaic Studio of the Fabbrica di San Pietro has completed and delivered today the mosaic medallion dedicated to the new Pontiff, in keeping with the centuries-old tradition that accompanies the election of every Pope.

Just over eight months after the election of the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, the Studio has completed the portrait destined for the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, at the request of the Archpriest of the Basilica, Cardinal James Michael Harvey.

The medallion, measuring 137 centimeters in diameter, was created using glass enamels and gold on a metal structure within the workshops of the Vatican Mosaic Studio. The tesserae were prepared using the ancient cut-mosaic technique and set with the traditional oil-based mortar of the Vatican tradition, confirming a craftsmanship handed down through the centuries without yielding to modern shortcuts.

The execution of the work began with a painted sketch by Master Rodolfo Papa, an oil on canvas of the same dimensions as the mosaic medallion, conceived from the outset for its translation into mosaic. This step is far from decorative, but structural, ensuring iconographic fidelity and chromatic accuracy in the delicate transition from painting to tessera.

The portrait will be installed in the right nave of the Basilica, next to that of Pope Francis, at a height of approximately 13 meters, thus becoming part of the historic sequence of Pontiffs that accompanies the path of the faithful.

The original painted sketch will instead be preserved at the Fabbrica di San Pietro in Vatican City, together with the complete series of papal portraits, as a testament to the creative process and the artistic continuity that continues to sustain the visible face of the Church.