Kimbal Musk, younger brother of tech mogul Elon Musk, recently visited Rome to discuss plans for a drone light show as part of the Vatican’s Jubilee Year 2025 celebrations. The 52-year-old entrepreneur, who owns Nova Sky Stories met with Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri on Saturday to propose the project. The previous day he met with PM Meloni and two ministers.
The drone idea, which features a music and light show over Rome, will soon be presented to the Vatican for approval, according to Italian news agency Adnkronos. If given the green light, it could become a highlight of the Holy Year’s festivities.
Meetings with Italy’s Leaders
Musk’s visit to Rome also included high-profile meetings at Palazzo Chigi on Friday, where he met Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, culture minister Alessandro Giuli, and deputy premier Matteo Salvini. Accompanying Musk were Andrea Stroppa, Elon Musk’s representative in Italy, and Veronica Berti, wife of tenor Andrea Bocelli.
During his meeting with Giuli, Musk reportedly discussed leveraging technology to enhance cultural experiences at heritage sites. Salvini later shared a photo on social media, describing their discussion as focused on “innovation, entertainment, and the global potential of Italian art and culture.”
The meetings have sparked scrutiny from opposition parties, with calls for transparency regarding the nature of Musk’s proposals. Irene Manzi of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) questioned the “mysterious” project, while the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) demanded greater clarity, stating that institutional decisions must remain transparent.
Broader Context
While some opposition members dismissed the visit as symbolic, it comes against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations between the Italian government and Elon Musk’s Starlink, which aims to provide a secure telecommunications network in Italy. However, government sources clarified that Kimbal Musk’s visit did not involve discussions about Starlink.
Prime minister Meloni’s close ties with the Musk family have drawn attention, particularly after she was the only European leader to attend a recent inauguration ceremony for US president Donald Trump.
The proposed drone show, meanwhile, is interesting. Whether the project will gain Vatican approval remains to be seen, but it has already generated significant buzz.
