Once a year, snow falls from the ceiling of this basilica in the heat of summer in Rome.
And this year is no different. On August 5, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major will celebrate the Feast of the Madonna of the Snows. Tradition holds that on that day in 358AD snow fell on the site of this future church.
At 10am, the day's celebration begins with a reenactment of the miracle presided over by the Archpriest of the Basilica. And pilgrims from around the world come to Rome to witness this event.
DUCO AND PATRYCJA
We thought it would be a great opportunity to celebrate this feast here and to experience this feast in place where it originates.
BARTOSZ
Being from Poland, you feel a Church in communion, a Catholic Church, that we are really here united in prayer, even if not everyone understands the language, in that way we are united in Christ.
Later that day at 5:30pm, Pope Francis will travel to St. Mary Major to join in Vespers and another demonstration of the miracle.
This will be one of the Pope's first events following his July summer break.
KG
