Easter Sunday & Monday

Hi Martin, Yes, you must have tickets to see Easter mass inside the basilica. It is probably too late to get themnormally you must write several months to a year in advance. That said, it's probably worth a try. The website papalaudience.org has complete information about Xmas and Easter tickets. Be aware that the Vatican has not entered the modern electronic age. Communication and tickets are done with faxes and snail mail. It is free to gather in St. Peter's Square, but it will be a huge mob. Expect to spend most of the day. Security will be tight and the crowds huge. You may need to arrive as much as 3 hrs. before the mass to get through the airport-style security.
I think it would be a very exciting time to be in Rome. There is a good chance the new pope will say the Easter mass. On the other hand, if they haven't managed to choose one by then, there might just be a cardinal doing it. You should expect Rome to be a complete zoo, but that's part of the excitement or part of the nightmare depending on your point of view.

Thanks Angela. That clears up the St. Peters question. When we were in Rome in 2000 for the Jubilee year, there was an outdoor mass in the Square and the metal detectors were only being used in areas closer to the front where there was seating. In the back quarter maybe where it was standing room only, you could come and go. Is that no longer the case? Is the whole square a "behind the security" zone?

Hi, Martin, I was at Easter Mass last year. It is OUTSIDE in St. Peter's square, and about 100,000 people attend. You MUST have a ticket, and to get one, contact your local parish office and request it. We also made dinner reservations (we looked up interesting restaurants on Parla.com) two weeks in advance for dinner both on Easter Sunday (many restaurants are closed) and Easter Monday which is a big holiday in Italy, which is why so many sites are closed. Don't be intimidated. We had a lovely time, and even if we hadn't been to Mass at St. Peter's there are many beautiful churches where Mass can be enjoyed, and there is a big procession from the Collisseum to St. Peters on Good Friday Evening, when the Cross is carried through the streets. We are "not young" and took a pass on this event, but if I were younger, I wouldn't have missed that either. Your hotel can make suggestions regarding restaurants, etc., and even make reservations for you. It was the Best trip ever~!

Now back to being confused. Ticket needed for the mass inside AND a ticket for the mass outside. Is there only one mass? IS it Outside? Is there a separate "blessing event" (Pope does from Study window) that does not require tickets (this is what I had heard about- but now not sure). Thanks!

The Vatican website has posted the following: Easter Mass in St. Peter's square at 10:15 a.m.
Papal Message and Blessing from the Loggia of the Vatican Basilica at noon. You need tickets for the Easter mass, even if it's outside. Sorry if my post caused confusion! You should initiate the ticket quest ASAP. The Vatican website is www.vatican.va, but is not always easy to interpret (somewhat like the church, I suppose...). The website I listed in my earlier post can help you get tickets if there are any still available. Many of Rome's churches do absolutely gorgeous masses on Easter, so someplace like St. John Laterano or Santa Maria Maggiore could provide a spectacular Easter experience if St. Peters doesn't work out. We attended Palm Sunday at SMM two years ago and it was lovely. No tickets req'd!

ONE Easter Mass and its outside. The above poster is correct. Sorry if this was confusing, but with over 100,000 people, inside St. Peters is too small (believe it or not) ALL of the churches are beautiful in Rome, and we went to Masses on Thursday, Friday and of course Easter.