{"id":9530,"date":"2025-09-27T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T00:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/?p=9530"},"modified":"2025-09-30T04:29:22","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T04:29:22","slug":"vatican-drone-show-solemnity-awe-and-new-tech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/vatican-drone-show-solemnity-awe-and-new-tech\/","title":{"rendered":"Vatican Drone Show: Solemnity, Awe, and New Tech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Photos<\/a>
Vatican drone show at ‘Grace for the World’ concert. (September 13, 2025)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Only 3,000 or so of Nova’s 3,500 on-site drones were in the air at any one time during the Vatican’s “Grace for the World” Saturday evening concert (September 13, 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Thoroe's<\/a>
Vatican City, St. Peter’s Square lower right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

LEDs on those 12-ounce mini-helicopters can display 16,000,000 different colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don’t know how many the Nova team used during the concert. Colors, I mean. The 3,000 drones airborne with 500 recharging at any given time is pretty clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However many colors they used, the show made quite an impression on folks in St. Peter’s Square. Which isn’t a square: more of an oval with a rectangular bit on its east side, and that’s another topic.1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Faintly Humming Drones, an “Atmosphere of Solemnity and Awe”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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“Vatican lights up with drone show at historic ‘Grace for the World’ concert<\/a>“
\nVictoria Cardiel, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (September 14, 2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“St. Peter’s Square became the stage for an unprecedented spectacle on Saturday night as tens of thousands gathered for ‘Grace for the World,’ a massive concert closing the third World Meeting on Human Fraternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The event opened with breathtaking symbolism: More than 3,000 drones illuminated the night sky above the basilica, tracing the image of Pope Francis, framing Michelangelo’s dome and Bernini’s colonnade in light. The display, a first for the Vatican, drew reverent silence before the crowd erupted in applause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The moment was accompanied by a stirring duet of ‘Amazing Grace’ performed by world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli and American singer Teddy Swims. Their voices rose over the hushed square, blending with the faint hum of the drones in an atmosphere of solemnity and awe….”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This concert was the Vatican’s first drone show, but far from the world’s first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Folks have been using the tech since 2012. That, and news media’s hysteria over national politics, may explain the lack of attention it’s gotten over here. All I’ve seen of it are clips from videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I’m inclined to agree with the priest who said it’s “cool”, and articles that said pretty much the same thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m slightly surprised \u2014 and pleased \u2014 that nobody’s had conniptions over the Vatican having a concert in St. Peter’s Square, folks using selfie sticks at the concert, or old-fashioned art being re-imagined with newfangled technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I haven’t noticed anybody having fits, at any rate. And haven’t looked for soreheads.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Song<\/a>
.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

My take on what I’ve seen of the concert’s drone art is that it’s beautiful, impressive, and part of humanity’s enduring habit of finding new ways to express ideas.2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ll get back to that, briefly. After sharing video clips someone took at the concert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Moving Lights and Music in St. Peter’s Square<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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