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Seeing the Pope at his Weekly Audience at St. Peter's Square

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I requested tickets to see the Pope at his weekly Wednesday morning audience from the Bishops’ Office for United States Visitors to the Vatican. The honored my request and instructed me to pick up the tickets the day before the audience (i.e., Tuesday). Unfortunately, I will only be arriving in Rome Wednesday (Oct. 11th) morning around 9:30/10:00 so picking up the tickets myself will be impossible. The Bishops' Office instructions also say that I can have a representative pick up my tickets on my behalf. I emailed the B&B where I am staying and they vaguely agreed to pick up the tickets. Thus far, I'm having a hard time getting assurances that they will be able to pick up the tickets for me so I am wondering if anyone here has any other ideas on how I can have someone pick up the tickets for me on Tuesday (Oct. 10th). I know this is a super random ask but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Posted by
6 posts

I was in a similar situation. We didn't want to make a special trip over to pick up the tickets and it stated on the form that if you cannot pick them up, you can pick up tickets at morning between 7:30 and 8:30 from the Swiss Guards at St. Peter's. We were there at 7:30, went through small security line and went up to a Swiss Guard to inquire
about tickets. Guess what?? No tickets required! It turns out that we could have shown up at 9:00 and easily got a seat. The Pope begins a tour of the Square around 9:45, so I' m not sure you'll make it.
This tickets situation may not always be the case, but it was easy for us.

Posted by
18 posts

Thanks! Do you mind telling me how long ago that was? I'm hoping the same no-ticket-required situation is still going on when I arrive. A second question I have is: whether it is advisable to visit the Vatican Museum following the papal audience?

Posted by
12063 posts

Arriving in Rome at 10 means you have a near zero chance of getting to the Vatican in time for the Papal Audience. You will not be able to bring your luggage with you ( to the seating area) and if you take time to stop at your hotel to drop the luggage, you are even more certain to see little other than the Pope's exit.

Depending on how you are arriving, there may be a luggage storage nearby, but others would have to address that, as I have never had to use that kind of service in Rome.

Posted by
6 posts

It was last Wednesday, the 13th. We visited the museum and. St. Peter's on Monday. I've heard there is luggage storage, but again, I don't see how you will be able to arrive in time.

Posted by
153 posts

We are going on Oct 4, have faxed request but not heard anything. Hope it won't be a problem to get 3 tickets.

We are planning to pick them up the 2nd or 3rd. Any tips??

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