Papal audience on Wednesdays

The audience takes place outside. If you want to get close you need to get tickets and get there at least 3 hours prior to the event.

Donna

We were there in late October, with tickets picked up from St Susanna the evening before. We got there before the security gates opened at 8 and got wonderful seats near the Popemobile lane and in front of the jumbotron. That said, there were still plenty of good seats an hour later. But seeing St. Peter's glowing pink in the early morning light was worth the early wake up call!

Here's some more information on tickets for the Wed. general audiences in St Peter's Square:

http://www.papalaudience.org/tickets

Assuming you're going in the spring, summer, or early fall, the audience will be in St. Peter's Square. If you go in the winter, it will be in the papal audience hall.

There are video screens that will allow you to see what's going on. However, if you want to see him in person, I suggest getting to the square as early as possible -- certainly no later than 8. Unless you are on the aisle that the pope passes by, or are very tall, it is challenging to see him in person. People tend to stand on chairs, which makes it difficult for other people to see him as he is passing by. So get as close to the aisle barricades as possible.

Pope Francis is drawing very large crowds. We arrived at about 7:45 in late October, and the square was at least 60% full when we arrived.

In the summer I arrived at St. Peter's Square by 10 AM on Wednesday and the Pope was already climbing the stairs to his throne on the platform. The Square was so packed, I was standing near the turnstiles at the entrance. I did see the Pope at that distance but he was mighty tiny.

This fall, some people on my tour went without tickets, but probably a bit early. They scored a place to stand along the barriers of the lanes left open for the Pope Mobile and got an excellent view. They said that he drove down every lane.