Ticket Reservations

To secure your spot, request tickets in advance online by writing an email to ordinanze@pontificalisdumus.va with the attached ticket request form: Download Form. Tickets are always free. They can then be picked up from the Swiss Guards at the Bronze Door, which is just after security when entering St. Peter’s Basilica.

Papal Events

The General Audience 

The General Audience is held every Wednesday at 9:00 am outdoors at St. Peter’s Square or inside the Pope St. Paul VI Hall depending on the weather and season (year-round except July and August).  

The Pope greets participants at the beginning from the pope mobile, offers his catechesis on the day’s gospel reading, and at the end blesses the crowd. The audience lasts anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours.   

Here’s a secret: if you are already in Rome and have not made ticket reservations, you can also approach the Swiss Guards next to the stairs at the exit of St. Peter’s Basilica without going through security. Ask the guards politely and tell them how many tickets you need. They carry quite a few with them during the day until they run out. 

For all papal events, more tickets are distributed than seats. If the audience is set to take place inside the Pope St. Paul VI Hall, be sure to arrive early around 8:00 am to guarantee that you will not be denied entry. The security entrance for this location is on the left side of side of St. Peter’s Square at the “Sant’Uffizio” gate. For General Audiences in St. Peter’s Square, late arrivals without tickets are usually permitted, but all seats will most likely be occupied and you will need to stand. 

Keep this in mind: you can get front row seats, an opportunity to meet the Pope, and have a photo taken with him if you are a newlywed couple (sposi novelli)... or in other cases by making a written request if you are someone with special needs or a foreign dignitary. 

The Sunday Angelus 

The Sunday Angelus happens every Sunday at 12 noon. No tickets are required. On this occasion, the Pope speaks from a window in the Apostolic Palace to the people below in St. Peter’s Square. He reads a short reflection on Sunday’s Gospel, leads the Angelus prayer in Latin, blesses the crowd and any religious articles they have brought, sends greeting to groups in attendance, and offers prayer intentions for people, issues, disasters, and conflicts close to his heart.  

Be sure to arrive 30 minutes early to go through security. The event lasts 15-20 minutes, and afterwards you can enter St. Peter’s Basilica with ease. 

Holy Mass on Feast Days & Special Occasions 

The Holy Father when healthy will celebrate Mass in either St. Peter’s Basilica or St. Peter’s Square on Feast Days or Special Occasions such as the Canonization of New Saints or Concistory for the Election of New Cardinals. 

Ticket reservations are required. You can make reservations using the same process as General Audience tickets (emailing ordinanze@pontificalisdumus.va with the attached ticket request form: Download Form; Pickup from Swiss Guards at the Bronze Door).  

Demand for tickets varies depending on the Mass. Tickets for Easter Vigil and Christmas Vigil Masses usually runout as early as two months in advance. Be sure to arrive early for the best seats and a closer view of the holy sacrifice of the Mass with the Holy Father. 

On a final note: if you are a priest visiting Rome, you can make a request in advance to concelebrate with the Pope. 

After the papal event, visit www.vatican.va for a full transcript of the Holy Father’s homily in your language or follow EWTN and Catholic News Agency on social media for highlights and key takeaways from the Holy Father’s message.