Today, Pope Leo XIV was formally presented with the round mosaic bearing his official papal portrait, destined for permanent installation in the Papal Basilica and Roman Station Church of St. Paul Outside the Walls. The presentation took place in the presence of Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica; Cardinal James Harvey, Archpriest Emeritus of St. Paul Outside the Walls; and the Abbot of St. Paul’s, the Right Reverend Donato Ogliari, O.S.B.

The mosaic, composed of more than 15,000 individual tiles—including some dating back to the nineteenth century—will be placed at the end of the right nave of the basilica, continuing one of the Church’s most distinctive and historically significant visual traditions. At the conclusion of the presentation, Pope Leo XIV invited all those present to join him in a moment of prayer before the image.

The installation of papal portraits at St. Paul Outside the Walls is part of a centuries-old tradition unique among the major Roman basilicas. Lining the upper walls of the nave is an unbroken series of medallion portraits of the Bishops of Rome, stretching from Saint Peter to the present day. This visual genealogy of the papacy serves not only as an artistic feature but as a powerful ecclesiological statement: the continuity of apostolic succession rooted in the witness of the Apostle Paul, whose tomb lies beneath the basilica’s main altar.

The Tradition of Papal Portraits

The tradition of papal portraits at St. Paul’s was significantly renewed following the devastating fire of 1823, which destroyed much of the ancient basilica. During the reconstruction, Pope Leo XII ordered the restoration and continuation of the papal portrait series, commissioning mosaics that would preserve the memory of past pontiffs while leaving space for those yet to come. Since then, each pope has had his likeness added shortly after his election, symbolizing his insertion into the living history of the Church.

St. Paul Outside the Walls also holds a special place in Rome’s liturgical life as one of the city’s Roman Station Churches, where the pope (historically) presides at liturgies during key moments of the liturgical year. The basilica’s connection to pilgrimage, prayer, and apostolic witness makes it a fitting setting for the visual remembrance of each pontificate.

Here is our youtube video about the Apse Mosaic in St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, double the size of a typical apse mosaic:

Stay tuned with Crux Stationalis and my journey through Rome’s most ancient churches especially the Roman Station Church Lenten Pilgrimage: