Pompei is preparing for the solemn Supplica to the Madonna of Pompei on Sunday 4 October 2026. Thousands of faithful, authorities and pilgrims are expected in Piazza Bartolo Longo for the celebration, according to local press reporting.
The programme centres on two moments. A solemn Mass is scheduled for 10:30, followed by the recitation of the Supplica at 12:00. The ceremony will be led by Monsignor Paolo Rudelli.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna of Pompei stands in Piazza Bartolo Longo and is a major international pilgrimage destination. The square in front of the Sanctuary is the expected gathering place for the 2026 celebration.
Why this year is described as historic
This year's October celebration is presented as historically significant because the announcement of Bartolo Longo as the new patron of Pompei is expected the following day. The local report links the Supplica directly to that forthcoming announcement.
No further institutional detail about the patronage announcement was corroborated by a second acquired source.
Preparatory events
The reporting also lists preparatory events ahead of Sunday:
- The "Discesa del Quadro" and a Mass on Friday 2 October
- A night vigil beginning on Saturday 3 October
These rites form part of the build-up to the Sunday celebration in Piazza Bartolo Longo.
A twice-yearly appointment
The Supplica traditionally takes place twice a year: on 8 May and on the first Sunday of October. The 4 October 2026 date follows that established October appointment.
For readers planning around the event, the confirmed references are the place, Piazza Bartolo Longo in Pompei, and the times, Mass at 10:30 and the Supplica at 12:00 on Sunday 4 October.
The exact attendance figure for 2026 has not been specified beyond "thousands," and access arrangements, road closures, public-transport measures and any live broadcast were not confirmed in the acquired sources.
