Month: January 2026

(OSV News) – Amid the 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25, OSV News spoke with Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of Scranton, Pennsylvania, who serves as chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and the Catholic co-chair of the Holy See’s International Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue committee, part of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

 

OSV News: How has the recent commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea impacted this year’s observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity?

Bishop Bambera: This year obviously is a very significant year to mark Christian unity, particularly in light of the council’s 1700th anniversary. It certainly is a very significant step forward (in Christian unity) this year.

Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has really established for his pontificate (a concern for Christian unity) in that incredible gesture of traveling to Nicaea to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and to profess a desire, certainly between the Catholic community and the Orthodox community, to pursue – based on our shared appreciation for that creed – work for unity.

 

OSV News: Where would you say we’re currently at with Catholic-Orthodox efforts to reunite?

Bishop Bambera: It’s very difficult for me to actually spell out specifically where we stand in terms of that relationship. However, I think we see clearly a desire for us to start to move forward in the gesture of Pope Leo going to Nicaea.

And I think we see it also in the gestures of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, as the conference is now regularly inviting Orthodox observers to come to our plenary meeting in November, as we did this past year.

I also think (the move toward unity gains momentum) because of some of the upheaval that we see in our world and in various countries in which there is tremendous concern for the well-being of people. I’m thinking of Ukraine in particular, and obviously the Middle East.

I think that the need is for us as Christians – Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants – to give whatever evidence we can of our desire to fulfill that prayer of Jesus (for unity, in John 17:1-26). If Christian leaders can’t work together in harmony and peace, how would we ever expect there to be harmony and peace in our world?

Quite the contrary; we need to witness to that. We need to be a voice to those political and social entities that are disrupting peace. We need to call them to something more.

 

OSV News: So, would you say that these efforts for Christian unity really are, from the perspective of our responsibilities to the Lord, fundamental to creating world peace for all people?

Bishop Bambera: I certainly think they contribute to it.

 

OSV News: How do you think increased Christian unity might help with interreligious dialogue?

Bishop Bambera: Our ability to journey together as Christians can only impact our relationship with other religions in a positive way. … There’s a wonderful quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi (the Indian political activist and nonviolence advocate), who had a great, great appreciation as a Hindu for Christ and for the message of the Gospel. He was asked if he would ever consider becoming a Christian, and his response was that he would become a Christian when Christians began to live the example and teaching of their Master.

Doesn’t that really speak very powerfully to the roots of this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity? We are responding to a prayer of Jesus. And so we have to get our house in order first.

I think for anybody to look at us in a way that sees our desire to journey together with them, be they Christians or of other religious traditions — before they’re going to trust us, they have to see that we’re willing to walk this talk.

 

OSV News: How can this week of prayer speak to the divisions that exist among Catholics themselves in the U.S.?

Bishop Bambera: We ought not set ecumenism to the side. It’s vital to our understanding of the Second Vatican Council. You can’t read the council without a lens towards Christian unity.

And it clearly, clearly is at the heart of the agenda of Pope Leo XIV, as it was with Pope Francis and recent pontiffs.

In the heart of that is this incredible prayer of Jesus (Jn 17:1-26) that establishes this invitation to all of us to work for unity. It’s not an add-on.

 

OSV News: The work of Christian unity seems to take place at two levels — expert theological dialogue, and the everyday encounters of fellow Christians with one another. How do these two levels intersect and interact?

Bishop Bambera: I think the easiest way to respond to that is to say it really goes back to Pope Francis, who put it in his own style very, very well (during ecumenical vespers for the close of the 2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity). He said that if we are focused on theological unity, and if we are looking at addressing all of the various theological factors that have led up to divisions within the churches, repairing those breaks in unity will take centuries. It took a long time for them to surface. It’s going to take a long time for them to be mended.

But there’s also, he said, a unity of life and love, whereby all of us, not just theologians, but more particularly the people in our pews — who are the visible presence and witness to faith and life and indeed unity — are going to embrace it much, much more readily and deeply and authentically. I can see that very, very well in my own life as a priest over the last 43 years in ordained ministry.

At times, from a theological perspective, perhaps we’ve lost our enthusiasm at times for unity. I think on the heels of the Council, many individuals thought that we would be able to move forward very quickly in terms of establishing unity. That’s not necessarily been the case.

But what I think you start to see on a very grassroots level is people walking together as brothers and sisters, almost to the point of not even recognizing our differences.

 

OSV News: Do you think one obstacle to Christian unity is a fear that oneness will mean compromising the tenets of a given Christian denomination, including Catholicism?

Bishop Bambera: I think so often people worry that we’re going to give away the store to simply achieve this level of unity that we commit ourselves to. And I think it’s so important that we don’t impose a false sense of unity.

The true and most authentic way for us to journey together as brothers and sisters is never to diminish who we are, and never to set up some false sense of unity that we haven’t yet established. It’s to acknowledge our differences.

It’s to recognize there’s a phenomenon called “receptive ecumenism,” whereby we look at really what is best in the other, and it’s not so much what we can give to you, but what we can learn from you and make a part of our lives.

We acknowledge our differences, we respect them, and we learn from one another ways in which we can grow together – recognizing that that full unity may be far, far in the future, but also recognizing that Jesus’ prayer is a prayer that is before us today, and whatever way we can walk together as brothers and sisters is what we’re called to do.

SCRANTON (Jan. 23, 2026) – Due to the significant winter storm forecast to impact northeastern Pennsylvania this weekend, Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton is extending hours at all of the emergency shelters it operates to ensure individuals experiencing homelessness have access to warmth, safety, and care during dangerous weather conditions.

The National Weather Service is predicting heavy snowfall throughout the day Sunday, with snowfall rates potentially reaching an inch or more per hour, along with frigid temperatures that pose a serious risk to those without adequate shelter.

“With prolonged snowfall and dangerously cold temperatures expected, this storm presents a real threat to individuals who are unsheltered,” Joe Mahoney, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services, said. “Our priority is simple: to ensure people are safe, warm, and out of harm’s way.”

SCRANTON
Saint Anthony’s Haven, 409 Olive Street, Scranton
Weston Field House, 982 Providence Road, Scranton

In Scranton, Catholic Social Services operates both Saint Anthony’s Haven and the City of Scranton’s Code Blue Shelter at Weston Field.

Both shelters will open as scheduled at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. While guests typically depart early the following morning, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, both shelters will remain open throughout the entire day on Sunday, since snowfall is expected to begin early in the morning.

Food and beverages will be available, including meals provided by Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton. Guests will also have access to movies and games throughout the day.

Both the Code Blue Shelter and Saint Anthony’s Haven will operate normally Sunday night, with guests able to remain until 7:00 a.m. Monday, with flexibility on the departure time depending on weather conditions.

WILKES-BARRE
Mother Teresa’s Haven, 39 East Jackson Street, Wilkes-Barre

In Wilkes-Barre, Mother Teresa’s Haven, an emergency shelter for men operated by Catholic Social Services, will open early on Sunday evening, between the hours of 3-4 p.m. due to the storm.

Mother Teresa’s Haven, which can accommodate up to 20 men, is located directly above Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen, and will serve as a vital resource for individuals seeking warmth and protection from the elements.

HAZLETON
Divine Providence Shelter, 214 West Walnut Street, Hazleton

Similarly in Hazleton, the Divine Providence Shelter will also open earlier on Sunday evening, between 3-4 p.m., due to weather conditions. Divine Providence Shelter is known for providing shelter, warmth, and safety during the severe weather.

Catholic Social Services urges anyone experiencing homelessness – or anyone concerned about someone who may need shelter – to take advantage of these extended hours. Members of the community are also encouraged to share this information with those who may benefit.

SCRANTON (Jan. 23, 2026) – In advance of a significant winter storm forecast to impact northeastern and north central Pennsylvania this weekend, the Diocese of Scranton is offering guidance to parishioners as they prepare for potentially hazardous conditions.

The National Weather Service is predicting significant snowfall, with total accumulations of one foot or more possible in some areas. The storm is expected to affect the region from late Saturday night through Monday morning, and officials warn that travel could become difficult to impossible at times.

The Diocese strongly encourages the faithful to exercise caution and prudent judgment when making travel decisions for Mass this weekend. Parishioners are strongly encouraged to attend a Saturday Vigil Mass in their parish if possible.

The Church teaches that participation in Sunday Mass is a serious obligation; however, canon law (church law) also recognizes that there are grave causes that might prevent participation in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Examples of grave causes can include unsafe travel conditions, in addition to personal sickness or care of the sick, being temporarily or permanently homebound, or lack of transportation.

If a person is prevented from attending Sunday Mass in person, they are strongly encouraged to view their parish livestream Mass or participate in the televised Mass from the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton on CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton. The Mass is broadcast live every Saturday at 5:30 p.m., and is rebroadcast on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Mass is also available on the Diocese of Scranton website and the Diocese of Scranton YouTube channel.

Parishes make their own determinations regarding the celebration or cancellation of Masses, religious education classes, and parish activities based on local conditions. Parishioners are encouraged to check their parish social media page/website before heading out.

The Diocese of Scranton asks all parishioners to follow guidance from state and local emergency officials throughout the duration of the storm and expresses gratitude to our clergy and parish leaders for their pastoral care and dedication to the safety of all throughout the coming days.

SCRANTON – In advance of National Disability Awareness Month in March, the Diocese of Scranton will hold its annual Mass for Persons with Disabilities on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, at 12:15 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.

All people, including those with special abilities, have gifts to contribute to the life of the Church. The Diocese of Scranton embraces and welcomes the talents of all individuals in building up the Kingdom of God.

The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will serve as principal celebrant and homilist at this special Mass.

The Mass is open to everyone. It will be broadcast live on CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton. The Mass will also be livestream on the Diocese of Scranton website, YouTube channel and links will be provided on all Diocesan social media platforms.

Partners in the annual Mass for Persons with Disabilities include Saint Joseph’s Center in Scranton and the Order of the Alhambra.

SCRANTON – The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will be the principal celebrant for the Diocese of Scranton’s annual Mass for the World Day of the Sick on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, at 12:10 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.

Celebrated each year on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the World Day of the Sick invites the faithful to pray in a special way for those who are ill, the elderly, and all who suffer, while also honoring the compassionate service of caregivers, healthcare professionals, family members, and all who accompany the sick with love and dignity.

The World Day of the Sick Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Peter will feature the Liturgy of the Anointing. Any person who wishes to receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be invited to approach the bishop/priest with their hands open and palms facing up. The bishop/priest will anoint both the forehead and hands of the sick person, accompanied by prayer for healing, strength, and peace.

CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton will provide a live broadcast of the Mass for those unable to attend. The Mass will also be livestream on the Diocese of Scranton website, YouTube channel and links will be provided on all Diocesan social media platforms.

The World Day of the Sick was established in 1992 by Saint John Paul II as a moment of prayer, reflection, and spiritual closeness for the entire Church, calling attention to the face of Christ present in those who are sick and vulnerable.

For the 2026 celebration, Pope Leo XIV has chosen the theme: “The compassion of the Samaritan: Loving by bearing the pain of the other.”

Explaining the pope’s choice of the theme, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said the theme “highlights an aspect of love of neighbor: love needs concrete gestures of closeness, through which we enter into the suffering of others, those who are ill, especially those who at the same time experience poverty, isolation and loneliness.”

“Like the good Samaritan who bent down to help the injured man along the road, the Christian community is also called to stop and help those who suffer and be evangelical witnesses of closeness and service to the sick and most vulnerable,” the dicastery said.

Please plan to join us on Feb. 11!

WASHINGTON (OSV News) – A group including Catholic organizations announced Jan. 21 a new partnership — The Catholic Immigrant Prophetic Action Project — that aims to assist the Catholic Church in the U.S. in organizing a robust response on behalf of migrants and refugees in the country, including those with legal status, who are affected by mass deportation efforts.

The project — a partnership between the Hope Border Institute, a group that works to apply the perspective of Catholic social teaching in policy and practice to the U.S.-Mexico border region, and the Center for Migration Studies of New York — aims to assist the Catholic Church in the U.S. in offering a robust response on behalf of migrants and refugees through research, communications and other support. The project will directly support dioceses and archdioceses to strengthen the Catholic Church’s response to mass deportations, organizers said.

On a call announcing the partnership, Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria, Texas, who is chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, pointed to the USCCB’s November “special pastoral message on immigration,” which voiced “our concern here for immigrants” at the bishops’ annual fall plenary assembly in Baltimore.

That statement, he said, “showed the unity of the bishops on the dignity, God-given, of every human person, and our almost unanimous desire to take that public. We oppose indiscriminate mass deportation, as the bishops are united in our statement.”

J. Kevin Appleby, senior fellow for policy at the Center for Migration Studies and the former director of migration policy for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the conference’s special pastoral message “really puts the wind at our backs in terms of doing this work.”

A key focus of the partnership, Appleby said, will be assisting dioceses in organizing events and communications related to migration issues.

“How can we amplify what the Church is doing, both in the print media, but also in social media?” he said.

The partnership will also develop response plans in the event immigration enforcement officers come to sensitive locations like schools, hospitals or churches, he said.

Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Hope Border Institute, said on the call, “Now, thinking about this current moment, our historic contribution as Catholics right now needs to be in the public square, in coordinated and collective action, promoting healthy tension, overcoming polarities, building peace, moving beyond the fracturing and the blame seeking and the side thinking.”

“This is what evangelization looks like in 2026: Productive tension is the pathway towards meaningful change,” he said.

Catholic social teaching on immigration balances three interrelated principles — the right of persons to migrate in order to sustain their lives and those of their families, the right of a country to regulate its borders and control immigration, and a nation’s duty to regulate its borders with justice and mercy.

Previously, Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis — an area that has become a flashpoint in the nation’s immigration policy debate — wrote in a Jan. 20 opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal that what once was “a difficult policy discussion” has increased in urgency as it is “playing out on the streets here.”

“If recent events in Minnesota have clarified anything, it’s that we can no longer put off the hard work of immigration reform,” Archbishop Hebda wrote. “Each year of inaction has made the debate louder, angrier and less humane.”

(OSV News) – Pope Leo XIV is currently evaluating an invitation by U.S. President Donald Trump to join his “Board of Peace,” an international body chaired by the president to oversee the governance and reconstruction of Gaza, the Vatican secretary of state said.

Speaking with journalists after an event at the Franciscan-run Pontifical University Antonianum in Rome Jan. 21, Cardinal Pietro Parolin confirmed that Vatican City State was among the countries that received an invitation to join the board.

“I believe I read that Italy is also considering whether or not to join,” Cardinal Parolin said, according to Avvenire, the newspaper of the Italian bishops’ conference. “We too have received this invitation: the pope has received the invitation, and we are considering what to do; we are looking into it.”

The board, which was formally announced by the White House Jan. 16, will serve as an oversight mechanism for the second phase of the Trump administration’s “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict.”

“The Board of Peace will play an essential role in fulfilling all 20 points of the President’s plan, providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development,” the White House said in a statement.

While joining the board would lead to a three-year term, The New York Times reported that Trump is offering countries a permanent seat if they pay $1 billion.

As of now, Norway, which has been at odds with Trump over his desire to acquire Greenland, and France have declined the invitation to join. France’s snub prompted Trump to threaten levying 200% tariffs on French wine if French President Emmanuel Macron refused to join.

Cardinal Parolin said the invitation to join the board “requires some time to answer” and that the request “will not be to participate financially” because “we are not in a position to do so.”

The Holy See, “obviously, finds itself in a different situation than other countries, so there will be a different consideration,” the cardinal said.

The Vatican secretary of state also commented on tensions between the U.S. and Europe as Trump continued his push for Greenland during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The “important thing is to respect international law,” he said. The ongoing tension with Europe is “unhealthy; the international situation is serious. It’s important to eliminate tensions and discuss controversial issues without creating tension.”

To read the full text of the pope’s message in English, click here.

To read the full text of the pope’s message in Spanish, click here.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – People of faith and goodwill need to take time to acknowledge the needs and suffering of those around them and be moved by love and compassion to offer others concrete help, Pope Leo XIV said.

To love one’s neighbor — whom Jesus identifies as anyone who has need of us — is within everyone’s reach, he said in his message for the 34th World Day of the Sick, observed by the church Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

“The pain that moves us to compassion is not the pain of a stranger; it is the pain of a member of our own body, to whom Christ, our head, commands us attend, for the good of all,” the pope wrote in the message released Jan. 20.

The theme chosen for the 2026 observance is inspired by the parable of the good Samaritan and Pope Francis’ encyclical on human fraternity, “Fratelli Tutti.”

Titled, “The compassion of the Samaritan: Loving by bearing the pain of the other,” the message focuses on the importance of: encountering and listening to others; being moved by compassion; and loving God through concrete action in solidarity with others.

While traditionally addressed to Catholic health care and pastoral workers, this year’s message is offered to everyone, Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, said at a Vatican news conference to present the message Jan. 20.

The message is offered to everyone because “we’re one body, one humanity of brothers and sisters, and when someone’s sick and suffering, all the other categories — which tend to divide — fade away into insignificance,” the cardinal said.

Asked to comment about how people in the United States should best respond when witnessing violence toward immigrants, Cardinal Czerny said, “I don’t know what to say about the larger picture,” but he said it would be helpful to focus on “the underview” or what should or is happening on the ground.

“There are many situations in which the individual Christian, the individual citizen, can extend their hand or lend their support. And that’s extremely important,” he said. “I suppose we could all hope that those many gestures, many Samaritan gestures, can also translate into better politics.”

The Catholic “struggle for justice,” he told Catholic News Service, gets “its real depth and its real meaning” from daily lived experience helping real people.

Advocacy work, for example, should “evolve out of real experience,” he said. “When, let’s say, your visits to the sick reveal, for example, the injustice of inaccessibility to health care, well then you take it up as an issue, but on the basis of your lived — and indeed pastoral and Christian — experience.”

The good Samaritan shows that “we are all in a position to respond” to anyone in need, he said. “And the mystery, which you can discover whether you are a Christian or not, is that by responding, in a sense, your own suffering is also addressed.”

“Since the major suffering for so many today, young and not so young, is loneliness and hopelessness, by worrying about it less and reaching out to someone who needs you, you will discover that there’s more life than you imagined,” he added.

In his message, Pope Leo said, “To serve one’s neighbor is to love God through deeds.”

In fact, the “true meaning of loving ourselves,” he wrote, involves “setting aside any attempt to base our self-esteem or sense of dignity on worldly stereotypes — such as success, career, status or family background — and recovering our proper place before God and neighbor.”

“I genuinely hope that our Christian lifestyle will always reflect this fraternal, ‘Samaritan’ spirit — one that is welcoming, courageous, committed and supportive, rooted in our union with God and our faith in Jesus Christ,” Pope Leo wrote.

“Enkindled by this divine love, we will surely be able to give of ourselves for the good of all who suffer, especially our brothers and sisters who are sick, elderly or afflicted,” he wrote.

WASHINGTON (OSV News) – Vice President JD Vance is expected to address the 53rd annual March for Life in Washington Jan. 23, organizers of the event said Jan. 16.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Vice President Vance back to the March for Life this year,” Jennie Bradley Lichter, president March for Life, said in a statement. “His presence at this year’s March underscores the importance of this iconic event and the centrality of the pro-life movement to a healthy conservative coalition. We are honored that he will join us in standing up for the unborn alongside our marchers from all over the country.”

President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House Jan. 16 he recorded a video message for the event.

“I just taped a beautiful piece for them, and they’re going to play it,” Trump said.

Vance’s planned appearance at the rally was first reported by The Daily Wire. A spokesperson for the White House did not immediately respond to an OSV News request for comment.

Just days after taking the oath of office last January, Vance spoke at the 2025 March for Life rally. In his remarks, Vance said, ” … the task of our movement is to protect innocent life. It’s to defend the unborn and it’s also to be pro-family and pro-life in the fullest sense of that word possible.”

“I want more babies in the United States of America,” Vance added. He argued that addressing cost-of-living concerns would be part of this approach.

“We need a culture that celebrates life at all stages, one that recognizes and truly believes that the benchmark of national success is not our GDP number or our stock market, but whether people feel that they can raise thriving and healthy families in our country,” Vance said at the time.

During his 2022 U.S. Senate bid, Vance, a Catholic, said he supported a federal 15-week abortion ban – a measure potentially affecting nearly 6% of abortions in the U.S. But in the days leading up to his selection as the Republican vice presidential nominee, Vance moderated his position on abortion, aligning with Trump that abortion policy should be left to the states. He affirmed Trump, as president, would oppose a federal abortion ban if Congress passed such a law.

Vance said on the campaign trail he also supported mifepristone, a pill commonly used for first-trimester abortion, “being accessible.” Although mifepristone can be used in early miscarriage care protocols, Vance did not qualify his statement. Nearly 9 out of 10 abortions take place within the first trimester, with more than six of 10 abortions performed through mifepristone.

The 2026 event comes shortly after Trump told House Republicans in a Jan. 6 speech to be “flexible” on the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits public funding of elective abortions, in negotiations on health care subsidies — to the disappointment of pro-life groups that support that policy.

The annual March for Life, which calls itself the “largest annual human rights demonstration in the world,” takes place on or around the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which previously legalized abortion nationwide. This year’s event marks the fourth march since the high court overturned Roe and related abortion precedent in its 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., are also among those scheduled to speak at the rally.

(OSV News) – The Vatican has completed the official mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV, continuing a centuries-old tradition that marks the election of each new pontiff. The circular mosaic, known as a tondo, was created by the Vatican Mosaic Studio of the Fabric of St. Peter’s and will be installed in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

The pontiff blessed artists Jan. 14, smiling at the sight of his own image, even as he battled a cold.

The tiles for the mosaic tondo were created using the ancient cut mosaic technique and fixed with traditional Vatican oil stucco – at the request of American Cardinal James Michael Harvey, the archpriest of the basilica.

The mosaic tondo, about 54 inches in diameter, was created with vitreous enamels and gold on a metal structure at the Vatican Mosaic Studio of the Fabric of St. Peter’s.

According to the studio’s website, “the history of the Vatican Mosaic Studio dates from the beginning of the sixteenth century, when Pope Gregory XIII Boncompagni decided to entrust the painter Girolamo Muziano with the mosaic decoration of the dome of the Gregorian Chapel of the Vatican Basilica (1578-1580).”

“Following its success, it was decided to extend this type of decoration also to Michelangelo’s large dome (1603-1612) and to all the domes of the basilica.”

Today, the studio performs a dual function: the conservation of the basilica’s mosaics, with restoration work, and the production of mosaic works for sale to the public.

“Thanks to the skill and experience of its mosaicists, who still use the ancient technical-artistic procedures, works inspired by masterpieces of sacred and profane art are executed. The studio also carries out works on commission and can be visited by appointment,” the studio’s website said.

The mosaic tondo was executed based on a pictorial sketch by Rodolfo Papa, the Vatican said, calling it “an oil on canvas of the same dimensions as the mosaic tondo, specifically conceived for transposition into a mosaic.”

The work will then be installed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis, in the right nave of the Basilica, at a height of approximately 42 feet.

The pictorial sketch will be preserved, along with the entire series of portraits of the pontiffs, at the Fabbrica di San Pietro in the Vatican.