The last time tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, it was to see the white smoke announcing the election of the new Pope, Leo XIV. On Saturday night, the crowd returned to witness something spectacular in honor of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year: a drone performance inspired by Michelangelo’s 16th-century masterpiece The Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

The drone show, the largest ever staged in Europe, was organized by Kimbal Musk’s Nova Sky Stories with the approval of the Holy See, which broke with centuries of tradition to allow a light projection accompanying the very first concert ever held in St. Peter’s Square. The event was directed by American singer Pharrell Williams and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.

Pharrell’s Voices of Fire choir brought a gospel note to the Vatican, John Legend sang Bridge Over Troubled Water, and Jennifer Hudson performed a duet with Bocelli, while 3,000 drones filled the sky above St. Peter’s Basilica to recreate the famous touch of God creating Adam, along with a drone version of the Pietà and a portrait of Pope Francis.

As the tiny points of light appeared and shifted into each new formation, the crowd erupted—first at a 3D heart, then at peace doves and halos adorning the church.

The evening ended with a giant rendering of the word JOY, written across the sky by drones.

It was a moment nearly two years in the making. The drones are small, weighing only 340 grams each, but capable of producing 16 million colors. The project was the brainchild of Kimbal Musk, Elon Musk’s younger brother, who first approached the Vatican with the idea of a light show in early 2024, when Pope Francis was still alive. That marked the beginning of 18 months of preparation: securing permits, negotiating access, and meticulously planning visits to one of the most guarded places on Earth.

Here you can watch the full concert:

The drones take occasional breaks to recharge, though the audience is unaware of it. Out of 3,500 drones charging, only 3,000 were in the air. They are programmed to return to their base for charging and, after about half an hour, to come back and be replaced by another. If a drone is lost—usually due to a gust of wind—it will first try to find its programmed position. If it cannot, it is programmed to return to base.

When the show focused on a tribute to the late Pope Francis, with Bocelli singing Amazing Grace, it was a particularly moving moment. There was a remarkable silence when Francis’ face appeared, followed by warm applause.

Throughout the concert, which lasted more than two hours, spectators sang and danced—something rare for Vatican events. The artists noted how special it was to perform in the famous square and thanked Pope Leo, who did not appear in person but approved everything from the lyrics to the prepared speeches. The performance was a risk for the Vatican, certain to provoke reactions. Yet, as the crowd dispersed into the night, there was an overall sense of awe, joy—and even a faint hope.