Saint Agnes Feast - Blessing of the Lambs
The rite of the lambs and the wool for the pallia, every January 21st on Via Nomentana
About Saint Agnes Feast
A Roman rite repeated for over five centuries
On January 21st, the Church commemorates Saint Agnes, a very young Roman martyr killed at the beginning of the 4th century and buried along the Via Nomentana, where the basilica bearing her name stands today. On this date, in the Municipality of Rome and more precisely in the Nomentano district, one of the most curious and photographed ceremonies of the Capital is renewed: the blessing of the lambs, a tradition documented since at least the 15th century and closely linked to papal liturgy.
Why two lambs
The name Agnes recalls the lamb in popular tradition, a symbol of purity and sacrifice. Hence the custom of presenting two small lambs to the Pontiff, provided by the Trappist monks of the Abbey of Tre Fontane in Rome and prepared by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, who raise them and dress them in a mantle: one white, to recall the virginity of the saint, the other red, a sign of martyrdom. Crowns of flowers and ribbons on their ears complete the image, which travels around the world every year.
From wool to pallium
The gesture is not merely symbolic. After the blessing, the animals are entrusted to the care of the nuns and, in the spring, shorn. The wool then passes to the Benedictine nuns of the monastery of Saint Cecilia in Trastevere, who wash, card, comb, and weave it on historic looms, some dating back to the 17th century. The result is the pallia: strips of white wool adorned with six black crosses, a liturgical insignia that the Pope blesses on June 29th, the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, and which is then delivered to new metropolitan archbishops around the world as a sign of communion with the See of Rome. An annual cycle that starts from a Roman basilica and reaches every continent.
The basilica and the catacombs
The complex of Saint Agnes Outside the Walls is one of the most stratified sites of Christian Rome: the Constantinian basilica, the 7th-century Honorian one with its famous apse mosaic, the nearby Mausoleum of Saint Constance, and a vast system of catacombs that can be visited. The community is entrusted to the Lateran Canons. On the day of the feast, the sanctuary comes alive with the faithful, curious onlookers, photographers, and families from the neighborhood: the day is marked by Eucharistic celebrations and the veneration of the martyr's relics.
The revival of the tradition in 2026
The rite of presenting the lambs to the Pope, suspended in the final years of the previous pontificate, was resumed on January 21, 2026, by Pope Leo XIV. The lambs were presented and blessed in the Chapel of Urban VIII of the Apostolic Palace, before the general audience, under the guidance of Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations; they were then welcomed into the basilica complex on Via Nomentana. News that has brought much attention back to a custom that risked fading away.
What to expect when visiting
- A free event open to all, with a strong devotional character rather than a spectacular one
- Solemn celebrations in one of the best-preserved paleochristian basilicas in Rome
- The possibility of visiting catacombs, mosaics, and the Mausoleum of Saint Constance on the same day
- An opportunity to understand up close what the pallium is, an insignia often mentioned but little known
In the landscape of traditional festivals in Lazio, the Saint Agnes Feast occupies a place of its own: it is neither a food festival nor a re-enactment, but a living liturgy that continues to literally produce a sacred object delivered every year to the universal Church.
Saint Agnes Feast — edition 2026
The return of the rite in 2026
On January 21, 2026, the liturgical memorial of Saint Agnes had particular prominence in Rome. After several years of interruption, the tradition of presenting the lambs to the Pope was resumed by Leo XIV: in the morning, before the general audience, the two small lambs were presented to the Pontiff in the Chapel of Urban VIII of the Vatican Apostolic Palace. The rite was led by Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations.
At the basilica on Via Nomentana
The animals were then welcomed and blessed in the complex of the Basilica of Saint Agnes Outside the Walls, where the blessing was imparted by the Abbot General of the Lateran Canons, Father Edoardo Parisotto. The Benedictine nuns of the monastery of Saint Cecilia in Trastevere were present, led by Abbess Maria Giovanna Valenziano, along with the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, who raise and dress the lambs. The animals wore the traditional white and red mantles.
The day in the basilica
The parish community of the Nomentano district accompanied the day with Eucharistic celebrations and the veneration of the saint's relics, in one of the oldest sanctuaries of Roman Christianity. Access to the basilica remained free and open.
Programme Saint Agnes Feast 2026
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
- Morning - Presentation of the two lambs to Pope Leo XIV in the Chapel of Urban VIII, Vatican Apostolic Palace, before the general audience. Rite led by Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli.
- Afterwards - The lambs are welcomed into the complex of the Basilica of Saint Agnes Outside the Walls, Via Nomentana 349, where they receive the blessing of the Abbot General of the Lateran Canons, Father Edoardo Parisotto.
- During the day - Eucharistic celebrations in the basilica according to parish hours (weekdays at 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM), with solemn memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr.
- All day - Basilica open for visits by the faithful; monumental complex, apse mosaic, and catacomb area accessible according to regular hours.
The wool of the blessed lambs will be shorn in the spring and processed by the nuns of Saint Cecilia in Trastevere to make the pallia, which the Pope blesses on June 29th, the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.
Highlights Saint Agnes Feast 2026
- The historic revival of the rite by Pope Leo XIV after years of suspension
- The two lambs with white and red mantles, flower crowns, and ribbons
- The blessing in the basilica complex on Via Nomentana
- The presence of the Benedictine nuns of Saint Cecilia in Trastevere, weavers of the pallia
- The visit to the Honorian basilica, the mosaics, and the nearby Mausoleum of Saint Constance
Prices Saint Agnes Feast 2026
Practical information — Saint Agnes Feast
Where
Basilica of Saint Agnes Outside the Walls, Via Nomentana 349, 00162 Rome (Nomentano district).
How to get there
By bus: lines along Via Nomentana with a stop at Saint Agnes. By metro: line B, Bologna stop, then bus towards Nomentana, or line B1, Saint Agnes/Annibaliano stop, a few minutes' walk away. By car: parking is difficult in the area; public transport is recommended.
Hours and admission
Free admission to the basilica. Complex visitable every day approximately 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM - 7:30 PM. Weekday masses at 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM; on holidays at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:15 AM, 12:30 PM, and 7:00 PM. For specific times on January 21st, it is advisable to check in advance.
Visits
The catacombs of Saint Agnes and the Mausoleum of Saint Constance can be visited with a separate ticket and have their own hours: inquire on-site or by phone.
Contacts
Parish office: +39 06 8620 5456 - [email protected] - www.santagnese.net
Tips
January in Rome can be cold and damp: dress appropriately. As this is a place of worship, respectful clothing and silence during celebrations are required.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Saint Agnes Feast
Basilica di Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura
Via Nomentana 349, 00162 Roma