New Mosaic of San Pedro Calungsod in Crypt of St. Peter's Basilica

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis was scheduled to bless a mosaic of San Pedro Calungsod in the crypt under St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday afternoon.
San Pedro Calungsod, the Philippines’ second saint was canonized October 21, 2012, in the Year of the Faith. Just a year after, through the efforts of Ambassador Mercedes A. Tuason, Philippine ambassador to the Holy See and through the inspiration of His Eminence Emeritus, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the image of San Pedro Calungsod in mosaic was scheduled to be installed next to the tomb of Pope Paul VI on Thursday.
The image was crafted by Studio del Mosaico, Fabrica di San Pietro. Some 600 different tones, shades and tints were used to complete the work. It has been said, “if an image is worth a thousand words, an image in mosaic is worth a million.” San Pedro is depicted as a young man wearing camisa de chino, with a martyr’s palm pressed to his chest and carrying the Doctrina Christiana.
San Pedro Calungsod’s faithfulness to God is a perfect example for every one of us, today especially, to the Filipino whose faith could be wavering due to the trials and difficulties presented by the recent calamities.
A Eucharistic celebration presided by Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle was scheduled to follow the blessing of the image, dedicated to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.