On 8 August 1976, Bolsena welcomed Pope Paul VI for a visit that became part of the town’s collective memory. Fifty years later, that historic day is commemorated with the naming of a square after the Pope who elevated the Church of Santa Cristina to the rank of a minor basilica.
8 August 1976: the day Bolsena welcomed Paul VI
On Sunday, 8 August 1976, at 5:34 p.m., the SH-3D helicopter of the Italian Air Force’s 31st Wing landed on the field of Bolsena’s municipal sports ground.
Almost one thousand people were waiting to welcome Pope Paul VI, gathered in the stands and waving white-and-yellow flags, the colours of the Vatican, alongside red-and-yellow flags, the colours of Bolsena.
This marked the beginning of a visit destined to leave a profound impression on the religious and civic history of the town. The Pope then reached the churchyard of the Church of Santa Cristina, crowded with worshippers, where he celebrated Holy Mass at an altar set up outside the church.
The photographs taken that day still convey the extraordinary significance of the occasion: the local authorities, the bishops, the crowd gathered around the church and Paul VI surrounded by the affection of the Bolsena community.
From Bolsena to the Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia
The visit was organised to coincide with the conclusion of the 41st International Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia.
The choice of Bolsena was far from coincidental. The town preserves the memory of the Eucharistic Miracle of 1263, which occurred at the altar of the martyr Saint Christina and is closely connected with the establishment of the Feast of Corpus Christi.
Before his departure, during the Angelus on 8 August 1976, Paul VI explained that the connection between Bolsena and Philadelphia was rooted precisely in the central importance of the Eucharist for both places. During the celebration, the Pope granted the Church of the Miracle the title of minor basilica.
The words spoken during his homily summarised the importance of the place:
“Bolsena does not forget.”
The Pope emphasised that Bolsena and Orvieto continued to preserve and nourish the memory and worship of the Eucharist, keeping alive a history capable of speaking to the entire world.
A memory still alive within the community
Fifty years later, many people in Bolsena still remember the emotion of that day: the crowded churchyard, the celebration, the Pope’s greeting and the departure of the helicopter.
Contemporary accounts report that Paul VI continued to greet the crowd until the very last moment. Before leaving Bolsena, the helicopter made another wide circle at low altitude, allowing the Pope to “see and be seen one last time.”
The visit was not only a religious event. It was a moment shared by the entire town, preserved in family memories, photographs and the stories passed down by those who had the opportunity to attend.
Fifty years later, Piazza Paolo VI is established
To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the visit, the Municipality of Bolsena and the Santa Cristina Pastoral Unit, following a proposal by the Custodians of the Sacred Stone, have organised a programme of commemorative initiatives.
The concluding event will take place on Sunday, 9 August 2026, with the official ceremony for the naming of Piazza Paolo VI.
Programme for Sunday, 9 August
10:15 a.m.
Meeting point in Piazza Nassiriya, in the lower section of the square.
10:30 a.m.
Unveiling of the commemorative plaque and information panels dedicated to Pope Paul VI, followed by a blessing given by Monsignor Gualtiero Sigismondi, Bishop of Orvieto-Todi.
10:45 a.m.
Departure of the procession.
11:00 a.m.
Arrival of the procession at the Basilica of Santa Cristina.
11:15 a.m.
Beginning of the Eucharistic Celebration.
A name connecting memory and the future
The naming of Piazza Paolo VI gives Bolsena a permanent reminder of that historic visit.
Its name will commemorate the Pope who arrived in Bolsena as a pilgrim and the deep connection between the town, the Basilica of Santa Cristina, the Eucharistic Miracle and the celebration of Corpus Christi.
Fifty years later, Bolsena once again gathers around one of the most significant chapters in its recent history, preserving its memory and passing it on to future generations.
“I came among you as a pilgrim. I preserve in my heart the memory of this encounter.”
Pope Paul VI
