Pope Francis and Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore Set August 2026 Catholic Events

Pope Francis (Lev XIV) will preside over several public masses in August 2026. On 6 August he will celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration at the Franciscan youth meeting in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi at 10:30 a.m. A second mass is scheduled for 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption, in the parish of St. Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo at 10:00 a.m. The Pope will travel to Rimini for a pastoral visit on 22 August, where he will lead an evening Eucharist at 6:30 p.m., and will again celebrate a Mass and procession in Castel Gandolfo on 29 August at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore will host a four‑day triduum from 2 to 5 August to commemorate the miraculous summer snowfall associated with the dedication of the ancient Marian shrine. Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, the basilica’s archbishop, will preside over the culminating Mass on 5 August at 10:00 a.m., during which white petals will fall from the dome to symbolize the historic snow.

Both celebrations attract thousands of pilgrims and are highlighted as major events on the Catholic liturgical calendar for August 2026.