A mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV was illuminated on Sunday at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, continuing a centuries-old Vatican tradition marking the election of a new pope.
The mosaic, created by the Vatican Mosaic Studio of the Fabric of Saint Peter, will be installed alongside portraits of Leo’s predecessors in the Basilica’s right nave, around 13 metres above the ground and next to the image of Pope Francis.
Measuring 137 centimetres in diameter, the round mosaic was made using glass enamels and gold tesserae mounted on a metal structure. The individual pieces were cut and set using traditional Vatican techniques, including oil-based mastic.
The work is based on a preparatory oil painting by artist Rodolfo Papa, designed specifically for translation into mosaic. While the mosaic will remain in the basilica, the original painting will be preserved at the Fabric of Saint Peter in the Vatican.
The portrait was completed about eight months after Pope Leo XIV’s election, in line with longstanding custom.
It was displayed on the occasion of the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, which marks the end of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that runs from 18 to 25 January.
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HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
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The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
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China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre and to voice their support for Ukraine, amid tensions within the bloc over blocked EU aid.
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