Vatican City, Jan 14 (EFE).- The Vatican Mosaic Workshop showed Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday the mosaic with his face that will be placed in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, following the tradition that accompanies the election of each pontiff. More than eight months after his election on May 8, the Vatican Mosaic Workshop has completed the 137-centimeter diameter mosaic, made with glass enamels and gold. The tiles were created using the ancient technique of cut mosaic and were fixed with the traditional Vatican oil stucco, the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the body in charge of supervising the works of the Holy See's heritage, reported. The execution of the work began with a pictorial sketch by artist Rodolfo Papa, an oil on canvas of the same dimensions as the mosaic's tondo. The work will then be placed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis, in the right nave of the basilica, at an approximate height of 13 meters. This extensive series of mosaics began during the pontificate of Leo the Great (440-461) in the 5th century and continued in 1847 during the pontificate of Pius IX (1846-1878). In this way, it is possible for those who frequent this basilica to admire the faces of the 267 popes, of whom more than eighty became saints. It is said that the space for the mosaics of future pontiffs in the basilica is limited: ancient prophecies count that when no more can be placed, it will be the end of the Catholic Church or even of the world. The last one, always illuminated, is that of the current pope where the name in Latin with the date of the beginning of the pontificate is also placed and space is left below for that of death. Most of these portraits were made by decorators and true specialized artists who lent their work and skill to the Vatican Mosaic Workshop, with the exception of some that were worked in Venice. To create the portraits of past distant pontiffs, in some cases imagination was given free rein since there are no documents on what their image was. The pictorial sketch will be preserved, along with the entire series of pontiffs' portraits. In the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, the portraits of the popes are preserved inside, from the first, Saint Peter, placed on the cornice of the nave and the lateral naves of the transept. The first of the tondos - artistic works in a circular form - that represents the apostle Peter, is located at the top of the transept, to the right of the apse.
