Rome’s “Snow Miracle” attracts thousands of onlookers at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, August 5th, 2025

Rome’s “Snow Miracle” event attracted thousands of Italian and foreign onlookers at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, one of Rome’s famous seven basilicas (and the site of Pope Francis’s tomb).

The event is now at it 42^nd edition and this year it's in honour of Pope Leo XIV.  Legend has it that on August 5^th, of the 4^th century the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to both Pope Liberius and a Roman patrician.  She had wished for the construction of a church where snow would have fallen.   Once awake, the two found the Esquiline Hill (one of Rome’s famous seven hills) completely covered in snow…and during the summer too! 

 
Last night’s event included light shows, small canons that shot out fake snowflakes over the crowd and the rather spectacular “Flight of the Angel” by an Italian ballet dancer.