Would you like to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis during your stay in Rome? You can! When the Pope is in Vatican City, he holds a public service in Rome every week. A personal meeting with the Pope is nearly impossible. Only bishops, cardinals, heads of state, and other dignitaries can request a private audience with the Pope.
The Angelus Prayer on Sunday at St. Peter’s Square
Every Sunday, the Pope recites the Angelus prayer in public at St. Peter’s Square. This service, also known as a blessing, is free for everyone to attend and takes place at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday morning at 12:00 p.m.
On Sunday morning, St. Peter’s Square in Rome fills up early with Christians and tourists who want to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis as he pronounces the blessing over everyone at 12 o’clock from his office in the St. Peter’s Basilica. Due to the thousands of visitors who flock to the square early on Sunday morning, it can get incredibly crowded around St. Peter’s Square. We therefore recommend arriving early to secure a good spot in the square so that you actually see the Pope.
It is advisable to bring binoculars, as the distance from the square to the Pope may be greater than expected, making it difficult to see the Pope from the square. However, thanks to the large screens and numerous speakers in the square, the Pope can always be seen and heard well via one of the screens. If you are not sure where to see the Pope standing, the Pope’s office is located on the top floor of the St. Peter’s Basilica. During the service, the Pope stands in front of the second window from the right on the top floor.
How to see the Pope in Rome? Papal Audience on Wednesday
Next to the Sunday Mass, there is also an opportunity to meet the Pope on Wednesday. On Wednesday mornings, the public audience takes place at St. Peter’s Square, and you can see the Pope for free. If you want to attend the audience with Pope Francis on Wednesday morning and want to be 100% sure that you can be present, you can choose to book tickets for the public audiences with the Pope in Vatican City. Public audiences with the Pope are only organized on Wednesdays when the Pope is in Vatican City.
Booking your ticket for the public audience of the Pope in Vatican City is very simple online by the GetYourGuide website or by the Tiqets website. You select the date and payment can be made easily and securely via credit card or Paypal. After your booking, you will receive your vouchers via email within a few hours. The costs are between 26 US Dollar or 38 US Dollar, depending on the chosen tickets.
Book your audience with the Pope online by this link for 34 US Dollar per person or by this link for 37 US Dollar per person.
Seeing the Pope in Rome during Christmas and Easter
Traditionally, on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday at 12:00 p.m., the Pope delivers a Christmas or Easter address, followed by imparting the Urbi et Orbi blessing. This ceremony annually attracts tens of thousands of believers and tourists to Vatican City, so it’s important to arrive early to secure a good spot. The Christmas and Easter addresses can also be followed live on radio, television, and the internet.
For the most up-to-date schedule of the Pope’s church services in Vatican City, visit the website w2.vatican.va. Then click on “calendario” (calendar), and select the month. You will then see the current program of the Pope.
