Vatican lights up the world with music and hope (photos)

Under the Rome night sky, the thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square gasped and cheered as 3,500 drones lit up above the basilica -- forming a radiant image of Pope Francis. The beloved pontiff, who passed away in April, appeared smiling in lights over the Vatican, a breathtaking tribute that clearly moved the crowd.

[See a slideshow of photos below]

It was a fitting climax to an unprecedented evening of music and hope at the “Grace for the World” concert -- a free, star-studded event that turned the heart of the Vatican into a stage for unity.

In a landmark cultural and spiritual celebration, the Vatican transformed St. Peter’s Square into an open-air concert venue, bringing together global music stars with a powerful message of fraternity.

Co-directed by an unlikely duo -- American pop icon Pharrell Williams and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli -- the “Grace for the World” concert marked the first time in history that live musical performances were held in the iconic square.

Supported by the Holy See, the show capped the third World Meeting on Human Fraternity and served as a joyful highlight of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025, known as the Jubilee of Hope. In fact, the whole initiative was born from Pope Francis’ vision for 2025 as a year dedicated to hope and renewal, and this night felt like the living embodiment of that vision.

Thousands of attendees -- from pilgrims and locals to clergy and world leaders -- packed the square, while audiences worldwide tuned in via live stream on Disney+, Hulu, and ABC News Live. In fact, it was the first time the Vatican partnered with major media platforms to beam the celebration of hope across the globe.

“On the evening of September 13, fraternity will take center stage, expressed through the universal language of music,” had explained Cardinal Mauro Gambetti ahead of the event.

As we previously reported, he emphasized that concrete acts of unity should flow from this gathering so that “fraternity does not remain a mere idea, but becomes a choice that transforms reality.”

And last night fraternity was on full display!

The concert program itself bridged genres and nations: Pharrell Williams performed with a soulful gospel choir from his hometown, and Andrea Bocelli lent his operatic brilliance -- in fact, you can see some fun backstage footage Bocelli shared on social media not long before the concert here.

They were joined by a remarkably diverse lineup of artists -- Colombian pop superstar Karol G, American R&B legend John Legend, hip-hop duo Clipse, country-rapper Jelly Roll, gospel singer Teddy Swims, Beninese-French artist Angélique Kidjo, the Voices of Fire gospel choir, and even the Diocese of Rome’s own choir.

Each brought their unique sound, yet all shared “one single message of brotherhood and peace,” as Bocelli has previously shared when talking of the concert's objectives. From soaring hymns to pop anthems, the music became a universal language of unity that transcended cultures. And the light show was momentous!

Perhaps the most striking moments were those that highlighted unity beyond Catholic borders. In one touching instance, the Archbishop of Canterbury (spiritual head of the Anglican Communion), who was in attendance, lightheartedly invited everyone to give a round of applause for Pope Leo XIV in honor of his 70th birthday today -- his first birthday as pope.

The crowd burst into warm applause and laughter at the bishop’s ecumenical gesture. It was a spontaneous show of affection for the pontiff and a symbol of Christian unity in action. Pope Francis himself had often stressed the importance of Christians walking together, and here was a Protestant archbishop leading a birthday salute to the Catholic Pope -- a moment of fraternity that he surely would have loved.

The late Pope Francis was ever-present in spirit throughout the evening. Beyond the dazzling drone portrait of Francis smiling over the Vatican, the concert’s very theme echoed his guiding ideals.

Francis had established the Fratelli Tutti Foundation to promote human fraternity and named this Holy Year the “Jubilee of Hope.” He was also deeply devoted to the Virgin Mary under the title Salus Populi Romani (“Protectress of the Roman People”). During the dark days of the pandemic, Pope Francis dramatically brought that ancient icon from a Marian basilica to St. Peter’s Square to pray for the world’s deliverance.

That powerful image of the Pope pleading for mercy in an empty, rain-soaked square is seared in collective memory -- a testament to hope shining in despair.

Now, in a far more celebratory fashion, hope was shining again in St. Peter’s Square. One could sense Francis’ blessing on this night of harmony; it was as if his devotion to unity and hope had guided the event’s spirit. Cardinal Gambetti affirmed that sentiment, calling the concert a “symbolic embrace” meant to spread “the joy of fraternal love” to the whole world.

The true beauty of the concert was that is was carefully crafted to be more than entertainment -- it was a call to solidarity. When reflecting on the significance of performing in the shadow of St. Peter’s Basilica -- in the run up to the big event -- Pharrell Williams observed:

Bocelli had echoed that sense of mission, urging, “Let us shine a spotlight on humanity with music from the very heart of Christianity and the most important spiritual square, reaching the entire world with a single message of brotherhood and peace.”

Under their co-direction, the show indeed felt like “grace for the world” -- a prayerful spectacle using art and beauty to uplift the human spirit.

As you can see in the video below, even the visual elements carried spiritual symbolism. During one moving number, waves of light and color danced across the facade of St. Peter’s, and later the drones formed other inspiring images -- a dove of peace and Michelangelo’s Creation hands.

The blending of modern technology with Renaissance imagery was striking. “A spectacular aerial drone and light show … featuring imagery inspired by the Sistine Chapel,” had been promised -- and it delivered, leaving spectators in awe. Many in the audience had tears in their eyes as they looked upward. It was as if the heavens themselves were joining the chorus, projecting hope-filled art above the faithful.

The impact of the evening continued well after the last note. On social media, viewers and attendees shared their personal reactions, revealing how deeply the concert touched them.

One commenter watching American artist Jelly Roll’s performance wrote, “Crushed it! This is what our world needs right now more than ever. Thanks for leading us, Jelly!” as shared by Soap Central -- gratitude for a song of struggle and redemption that really hit home in these troubled times.

Another attendee who was present in the Square described the moment as almost transcendent: “Being present for this song … it’s truly something spiritual with the whole crowd singing, raising hands to God; I’ll never forget it. My husband, who isn’t a religious guy, said the same. It really was something to experience.”

Such reactions capture the extraordinary atmosphere that night -- a sense that something sacred and unifying had occurred, even for those who might not usually step foot in a church. The concert really struck a chord far beyond the Vatican walls, resonating in hearts across different faiths and backgrounds.

For many, the Vatican’s great concert was more than a one-night event -- it felt like the dawn of a hopeful new chapter. It demonstrated the unique power of music to break down walls and remind us of our shared humanity, offering the world a chance to pause and see what it looks like when many voices choose to harmonize in unison. And at a time when headlines are often filled with conflict and division, this night of grace offered a counterpoint: an image of the world not as a collection of strangers, but as one family united in song and purpose.

Pope Francis often spoke about the “culture of encounter” -- meeting others with openness, fostering solidarity, and finding God in the joys and sorrows of everyday people. This concert, held in the very piazza where he had welcomed millions during his papacy, embodied that ethos. Even though Francis could not be there in person, his spirit of encounter lived on in every note sung and every hand joined.

It was evident in the diverse roster of performers embracing each other on stage, in the Anglican and Catholic leaders applauding each other, and in the mixed crowd swaying as one to a gospel chorus. It was as if the “Jubilee of Hope” he envisioned had taken musical form for an evening -- hope made audible.

As the final hymn drifted into the night sky and St. Peter’s Square grew still, there was a sense that something holy had passed through. The Vatican had not only hosted a concert, but had become, if only for a moment, the world’s open-air sanctuary. Music and light carried the hope of unity from Rome’s heart into countless homes and hearts across the globe.

And so the true encore begins—not on stage, but in every act of kindness and reconciliation inspired by that night. For in the harmony of voices and the glow of grace, the world glimpsed what Pope Francis so often longed for: a humanity that sings together as one.

If you haven't had the opportunity to see the concert yet, click on the video below: