New Pope Throwing Star-Studded Banger At The Vatican

Pope Leo XIV tapped Pharrell Williams and Andrea Bocelli to lead a massive free concert and light show in St Peter’s Square on Saturday.

The “Grace for the World” performance is expected to draw tens of thousands to the Vatican, with Williams and Bocelli co-directing a lineup that also features John Legend, Angelique Kidjo and Thai rapper BamBam. Vatican officials say it’s the first music event of its kind to be staged at the historic site. (RELATED: Pope Leo XIV Shows Mad Love For Chicago White Sox In Epic Video)

The spectacle will also feature an aerial light show with 3,500 drones, adding a high-tech flourish to the night.

Pope Leo XIV, an accomplished classical pianist and music enthusiast, is not listed on the official schedule to attend the event.

The pope spoke about the event in a speech Friday, framing it as a call for unity.

“The world is marked by conflicts and divisions, and you are united in a strong and courageous ‘no’ to war and ‘yes’ to peace and fraternity,” he said, according to Barron’s. “I would like to thank the artists who, through their creativity, will spread this message to the whole world from Bernini’s magnificent colonnade.”

“Together, let’s reflect through music to spread the message of unity and grace for all humanity,” Williams wrote on Instagram ahead of the concert.

In addition to the large crowd expected at St Peter’s Square, the event will be broadcast live on American and Italian channels. The concert event marks the end of the third “World Meeting on Human Fraternity” launched after the 2020 publication of the “All Brothers” encyclical by the late pope Francis, according to Barron’s.