Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December 2025

On 8 December, for the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the citizens of Rome will pay homage to the statue of the Immaculate Conception in Piazza Mignanelli, close to Piazza di Spagna.

As per tradition, the first to arrive will be the Fire Brigade, in honor of the 220 colleagues who, on 8 December 1857, positioned the column on which the statue was then mounted in just thirty minutes, thanks to the use of a special machine designed and built by firefighter Gioacchino Machi with the collaboration of his colleagues. Since 1949, every year at 7 a.m., the most senior firefighter on duty climbs the more than 100 steps of the ladder to a height of 27 meters to place the floral tribute in the arms of the Madonna.

For the first time, Pope Leo XIV will also take part in the traditional tribute, arriving in Piazza di Spagna at 4 p.m. The pontiff will be welcomed by Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina and Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, pray before the monument and leave a wreath of flowers. The Vatican Gendarmerie band (which will perform a hymn to Our Lady at 8.30 a.m.), the parish of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, the Sovereign Order of Malta, the Legio Mariae, the Circolo San Pietro, the Don Gnocchi Foundation, Unitalsi and various educational institutions will also take part in the solemnity. In the morning, at 9 a.m., in the church of Trinità dei Monti, there will be a Mass with workers from the most important Roman companies, who will then go to pay homage to the Marian statue.

As usual, the task of welcoming groups and worshippers and leading the day’s events is entrusted to the Friars Minor of the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles, the church that hosts Rome’s oldest novena to the Immaculate Conception.

The day of feast is also an opportunity to visit some state-owned cultural heritage sites. Discover all the museums and archaeological sites that will be open exceptionally on Monday 8 December.