On Saturday evening, September 13, St. Peter’s Square in Rome gathered tens of thousands of spectators for Europe’s largest light show of drones, which reproduced the masterpieces of Michelangelo. The event was organized by the Nova Sky Stories company of Elon Musk’s younger brother, Kimbal Musk, with the permission of the Holy See, National Geographic reports.
For the first time, the Vatican broke a centuries-old tradition by allowing a light show to accompany a concert on the square. Voices of Fire hip-hop choir, American rapper Pharrell Williams, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, soul singer John Legend and American Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson performed in the program.
During the concert, hundreds of drones reproduced a three-dimensional heart, doves of peace, the famous “Touch of God” from the fresco “Creation of Adam”, a portrait of the late Pope Francis and other visual effects.
The idea of a light show was proposed by Kimbal Musk at the beginning of 2024, when Pope Francis was alive. For 18 months, the team negotiated and planned the program, receiving the approval of both the Holy See and the first American Pope, Leo XIV. Although the pontiff was not personally present, he previously approved the lyrics of the songs and prepared speeches.
The two-hour concert and drone show created an atmosphere of joy, unity and reverence among the audience on the square.
