Vatican Last Sunday of the Month - is it worth it?

Free Sundays are usually incredibly crowded
I would avoid

What if I go and stand in line super early, like at 7am

Also is there anything special about sundays? Ex. Can see the pope?

Also can one person stand in line for 5 tickets?

Reply by litonbabu014 reported as spam.

...should I book the tour for a confirm admission?

Yes. If you want to make sure to get in on a Free Sunday, make a reservation on the Vatican's website (see link below) or book a different day. Same for you, Amy: there are no "tickets" sold onsite on free Sunday so your entire party will need to stand in line to get in, or pre-book the tour I've linked below, assuming there are still openings.

As well, Amy, I know you are traveling with a couple of seniors? If they have mobility challenges, the Sunday tour states this: "This tour is not recommended for people with walking difficulties."

If not booking the tour, no idea how long the wait to get in might be.

"Free Sunday" tour:
https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home/fromtag/2/1698555600000/domenica

Do note the museums' reduced Free Sunday hours: open a 9:00 - close at 2:00; last entry at 12:30.

For the ability of possibly seeing the Pope on any Sunday noon Angelus he's able to perform, see his calendar, which does not extend to Dec. 2023 or into 2024 yet. As the website states:"The Papal Calendar is updated by the Vatican on a monthly basis, usually at the beginning of each month but often week by week."

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/events/year.dir.html/2023.html
http://www.papalaudience.org/schedule

Info for Sunday Angelus:
"The Sunday Blessing (Angelus) is an event welcome to everyone, tickets are not needed nor issued and seating is not available.The Holy Father appears from the Papal Palace window at noon to bless the many visitors and pilgrims. The Sunday Angelus is held weekly at 12:00pm (noon) on Sunday, it lasts around 15 minutes and is held in St. Peter's Square."
http://www.papalaudience.org/tickets

Kathy, thanks for all the information!!

So, one person can't stay in line and get 5 tickets? Or may be others can join the line towards the end?

Amy
You’ll be standing in line solely for admission.
As noted above no tickets sold on Free Sunday
I don’t think others in line would appreciate the rest of your group cutting in at last minute.

The Papal audience is in St Peter’s Square so nothing to do with Vatican museums admission

Amy, I was only addressing free Sundays, for which there are no tickets so just a long line to get in.

Aren't you leaving on this trip in just a few days? Have you checked the Vatican's site to see if some tickets have popped up since last you checked?

For visits on other days the museums are open, I've no idea if you can purchase on-site tickets for the rest of your group without them being with you. Top attractions have cracked down on scalpers and the like gobbling up tickets so they may want you all present. Even if you had them join you as you got nearer to the ticket office - zero idea where they'd have to wait - I'll agree with Christine that I don't know how everyone else standing in line would react to that. I guess you could always ask?

https://tickets.museivaticani.va/support

In your case, I'd probably take your group there in the afternoon to get your tickets; I read that the line is shorter at that time. Regarding your seniors again....The museums are very large, and they'll need to be able to do a lot of walking.