Pope's Health Affect on Rome in January

Seems it would be difficult to visit
at a minimum the Vatican

Visiting Saint Peter's on the day of the funeral will be impossible, that's a problem. Same if they put the coffin on display inside the Basilica.

He wasn't particularly loved like John Paul II, I doubt his funeral will attract million of pilgrims to Rome. The successor has already been elected, so they won't close the Sistine Chapel for days.

Um, he's not the pope any more. Hasn't been for almost 10 years. You know this, right? So, no biggie.

Yes but famous public figures attract large crowds at funerals

As Dario said, he wasn't especially beloved. I'd be surprised if the funeral attracted crowds.

At least a new pope wouldn’t need to be elected. I was in Sicily a couple times in the 1970s, a month apart and on each trip a new pope was being elected. Literally, everything was closed so there was little to do in Catania where we stayed.

There is no connection between opening hours in Italy and the election of a new head of state at the Vatican. No shop owner cares to the point of missing some business and no collective labour agreement states that workers must stay at home because an old priest died in Rome.

Even if the current Government would be very happy to declare some days of National Mourning, the only obligation would be to lower flags at half mast, everything else is voluntary.

Incidentally, I doubt that red cities like Turin, Florence and Bologna shut down because two popes had to be elected in the 70s; anyway even in Catania those days are long gone.

Since he's an ex-Pope, it seems unclear to what level of ceremony he is entitled.

Even the Vatican is bewildered.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64116624

There were more people mourning in Naples when Maradona died than what I expect there will be when Benedict dies.

• Requiescat In Pace -

31 December 2022

A quick peek at the Vatican Museums website shows a variety of tours/tickets still on sale for Monday, Tuesday and Wed. next week but no sales of any sort on Thursday or Friday. I might assume that means that the museums will be closed on those two days but that's just a guess. Tickets/tours are available again for Saturday.

A couple of tour companies I glanced at which offer combos of the museums and basilica - including entry via the interior passage - haven't posted any disclaimers yet but it's early. The Vatican hasn't posted any info yet regarding refund of tickets purchased on their site, if indeed they will be closed for 2 midweek days.

If anyone has tickets/tours booked for Jan. 5th and 6th, pop by with news from your ticketing source if you've any to report?

No disrespect intended regarding the Pope Emeritus' passing; just referencing the OP's visitation question.
(OP, guessing there shouldn't be any issues for you in mid/late January.)

It sounds like even though Pope Benedict is dead, there is still some uncertainty about the process (although it was just announced the Pope Francis will preside over his funeral).

Pope Benedict XVI Dies (gifted so no paywall).

We have the breakfast Vatican tour and Sistine Chapel tour booked through the official website for January 5 - I just tried to change the date to Saturday and it would not allow me to do so. Still awaiting an email update.

We had a walks of Italy tour of the Vatican scheduled for Jan 2. We got an email saying that the Vatican is closed for tours from Jan 2-5th

The deceased pope will be hommaged in St. Peter's basilica from Jan. 2th. Funeral service on Jan. 5th, 60000 people expected in Rome.

We had a walks of Italy tour of the Vatican scheduled for Jan 2. We
got an email saying that the Vatican is closed for tours from Jan
2-5th

That's so weird as the Vatican Museums website is still showing tours of the museums (not the basilica) available to book on the 2nd and 3rd. Did your tour include the basilica?

We're in Rome now and they cleared out St. Peter's square at 12:30 yesterday so we couldn't visit the Basilica. Fortunately, we got our visit into the Sistine Chapel yesterday morning. Does anyone know if you can get into the Basilica today? Their official website does not appear to be up to date.

Does anyone know if the Wednesday Papal audience is now cancelled this week?

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/events/month.dir.html/2023/1.html

The Wednesday Audience is on the schedule... see above

Quick question. We had a walks of Italy tour of St. Peter’s basilica and the Cistine chapel for Jan 2, which we rescheduled to Jan 5. We got an email today that the Vatican museums are open on Jan 5 but St Peter’s basilica is closed for the funeral. Is it still worth going just to the Vatican museum or should we cancel and try visiting both during our next trip to Rome?

Deb, as long as you already have a tour booked I definitely think it's worth seeing the museums. As WOI can't include the basilica, they'll likely spend more time in the museums - which are VAST! - and Sistine...or so the website states for their very popular "Pristine Sistine" tour.

"Note: We advise our clients that St. Peter's Basilica may be closed during special celebrations/festivities, including the Easter ceremonies. If this occurs during your visit, we will spend more time inside the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. Your guide will still give you an introduction to the church should you wish to visit this on your own at a later occasion. We are unable to provide refunds or discounts."

Whether the same applies to ALL of their Museums/Basilica combo tours is a question mark but you could always email them with your question?