ST. PETERS SQUARE LIGHT UP BY 3000 DRONES FOR HISTORIC VATICAN CONCERT
More than 80,000 people flocked to St. Peter's Square for the Grace for the World performance on September 13, which was followed by a stunning drone show by Nova Sky Stories. This was one of the biggest crowds to visit the Vatican since Pope Leo XIV's election. Over St. Peter's Basilica, more than 3,000 drones illuminated the night sky, creating pictures of Pope Francis, the Virgin Mary, and Michelangelo's Creation of Adam.
The event was the last of the 2025 World Meeting on Human Fraternity and was held in honour of the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year. Global leaders, artists, and activists gathered at the Vatican for the two-day summit to consider humanity's place at a time of pressing environmental and social issues as well as swift technological advancement.
Pope Leo XIV, who was born in Chicago, brings a contemporary and uniquely American viewpoint to his role as pope, and this was evident in the musical schedule. In front of the enormous crowd, Pharrell Williams, John Legend, Karol G, Jennifer Hudson, BamBam, Clipse, Teddy Swims, Jelly Roll, and others performed at the mega-event, which was co-directed by Andrea Bocelli and Pharrell Williams.
In his opening remarks, Williams exhorted the audience to see the power of mankind "far beyond the limits and constrictions of other religions." Strong messages of harmony and peace were also given by cardinals, clerics, and campaigners, including Graça Machel Mandela, the widow of Nelson Mandela. An amazing show of coordinated drones formed images of the late Pope Francis, shining hearts, doves of peace, and halos in the sky as the evening came to a close.
The drone display was well worth the nearly two years it took to create. Three thousand of the 3,500 drones that Nova Sky Stories deployed were in the air at any given time, with the remaining drones rotatingly recharging. The audience never noticed because the drones switched smoothly every half hour. Additionally, one was designed to return to its station if the wind pushed it off track.
In addition to being technically stunning, the crowd was moved by the extremely imaginative light show. When Bocelli's face appeared in the lights during his rendition of "Amazing Grace" in honour of the late Pope Francis, the audience went silent before erupting in cheers.
Kimbal Musk, the founder of Nova Sky Stories, stated, "Drones can wow people, but if we can make a grandmother cry...Yes, you do want to affect their feelings.