The Weekly Wednesdays Audience usually starts between 10 - 10.30am depending on the time of year, if you would like to get a good seat you will need to arrive between 8.30 - 9am.
The audience lasts for around 1 - 1 1/2hours, during which time the Pope will give speeches in various languages including English.
At the end of the Audience he will impart the Apostolic Blessing and also blesses any religious articles you may have brought with you.
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February 2010
Wednesday 3rd, 10th, 17th
- Liturgical celebrations
- Tuesday 2nd: Vespers with religious, 17:30. Presentation of the Lord. Vatican Basilica
- Wednesday 17th: Holy Mass of Ash Wednesday, 17:00. Basilica of Saint Sabina on the Aventine
March 2010
Wednesday 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st
- Liturgical celebrations
- Sunday 28th: Celebration of Palm Sunday: 09:30. St Peter’s Square
- Monday 29th: Holy Mass on the anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II: 18:00. Vatican Basilica
April 2010
Wednesday 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
- Liturgical celebrations
- Thursday 1st: Chrism Mass: 09:30. Vatican Basilica
- Thursday 1st: Mass of the Lord’s Supper: 17:30. Basilica of St John Lateran
- Friday 2nd: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion: 17:30. Vatican Basilica
- Friday 2nd: Stations of the Cross: 21:15. Coliseum
- Saturday 3rd: Easter Vigil: 21:00. Vatican Basilica
- Sunday 4th: Mass of Easter Sunday: 10:15. St Peter’s Square
- Sunday 4th: Blessing Urbi et Orbi
May 2010
Wednesday 5th, 19th, 26th
- Liturgical celebrations
- Sunday 23rd: Holy Mass of Pentecost: 09:30. Vatican Basilica
FJune 2010
Wednesday 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
- Liturgical celebrations
- Thursday 3rd: Corpus Christi Holy Mass and Procession: 19:00. Basilica of St John Lateran
- Thursday 10th: Vigil for Priests. St Peter’s Square
- Friday 11th: Holy Mass for the conclusion of the Year for Priests: St Peter’s Square
- Sunday 20th: Priestly Ordinations: 09:30. Vatican Basilica
- Monday 28th: First Vespers of the Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul: 18:00. Vatican Basilica
- Tuesday 29th: Holy Mass for the Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul: 09:30. Vatican Basilica
Pope in summer time Holidays
Although the Pope holds the Audiences regularly on Wednesdays there are times when he may be on a Pastoral Visit around Italy or overseas or he may be enjoying the Italian holiday period in his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo during the month of August, in which case the Audiences will not be going ahead.
The Vatican do list the dates of Audiences and events on their website and they normally update it periodically, usually 3 months ahead of any scheduled dates.
You can check the calendar of events by clicking the following link:
http://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/index_en.html
Papal Audience Tips
The Papal Audience is scheduled to start at 10.30am (Sometimes in Summer due to the heat they may start the audience at 10am instead)
However, you will find that most people will arrive early to get a good seat. Security opens between 8 - 8.30am, large numbers tend to arrive between 8.30-9am especially during high season when more people will be attending.
In Summer the audience is usually held in St Peter's Square to accommodate the large crowds, there is a seating area near the front for those with tickets but it is still a first come first served basis so again to get a good seat you should arrive early.
If you are unable to arrive early or get a ticket in advance, again as the the audience is usually held in St Peter's Square during the Summer season it is still possible to access the Square and participate as there is plenty of standing room.
Papal Audience Held at St. Peters Square (Important for Summer Time Meetings)
As Rome can get extremely hot in Summer, particularly June, July, August and the Audience is outside it is good to come prepared!. BRING HATS, SUN SCREEN AND WATER, you can also bring something to read or occupy yourself with while you wait for the Audience to start.
You will need to pass through Security scanners similar to the airport to access the audience, it is advisable to bring only small bags or backpacks and Items such as pocket knives, corkscrews, scissors and similar objects will not be permitted through the checkpoint.
Papal Audience Held at Hall Paul VI
In Winter the audience will be moved indoors to the Hall of Pope Paul VI located to the left of St Peter's Basilica as you face the Church behind the Colonnade.
Although there may be less people attending during winter the Hall can only accommodate a certain amount of people so again to get a good seat and to be guaranteed entrance you should arrive when security opens around 8.30am.
They will not permit entrance even with tickets once the Hall is full.
Papal Audience in English & Papal Blessing
During the Audience the Pope will give speeches in various languages, the main languages being English, French, Spanish, German and Italian amongst others.
English is usually the third language along and at the very end of the audience the Pope imparts a blessing upon the crowd which also extends to those at home that are sick or suffering an also any religious articles you have with such as Rosary beads etc.
You can leave the audience before it finishes but if you wish
to receive the blessing you will have to stay until end.
Papal Audience in Castel Gandolfo
Occasionally in the past during the Holiday period of August/early September the audience has been held in the Pope's Holiday Residence of Castel Gandolfo.
Castel Gandolfo is around 1hr outside of Rome, it is possible to reach there by Public transport but both the buses and trains do not run very often.
You can either take Metro line A to Anagnina Station and from there the Cotral bus to Castel Gandolfo.
You would need to be at Anagnina by 8am to get a bus early enough to get you to the audience on time as again they run very infrequently, almost every 2hrs.
The other option is taking a train from Termini Station and you will need to check the hours but the trains do run more often than the buses.
The Castel Gandolfo train station is located at the bottom of the hill upon which you have the Pope's Palace, you should expect a fairly steep climb to the top.
CLICK ON THE ICON BELOW To See a Timetable Example Roma Termini (Train Station) to Castel Gandolfo "Down Hill" (add 40 minutes walking to the Top):
Alternatively the Pope may reside at Castel Gandolfo and be Helicoptered into Rome for the Audience and back again.
Again, a good way to keep updated is to check the Vatican website, although they do make last minute changes!
http://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/index_en.html
You can attend a regular mass at St Peter's Basilica celebrated by Priests from the Vatican (Not the Pope!) on a daily basis.
Monday - Saturday masses are: 7am ; 8am ; 9am ; (sometimes 10am) ; 11am 12pm and at 5pm.
Sunday morning Masses are:7am ; 8am ; 9am ; *10.30am and 12pm.
* The Sunday Solemn Mass is celebrated at 10.30am. To get a seat in the Solemn Mass you will need to be inside the Basilica by 9.30am. You will also need to make allowances for the time it takes to get through security into the church.
Sunday Afternoon Masses: Start 4pm followed by Vespers at 5pm and concluding with the last mass of the day at around 6pm.
Pontifical Celebrations: Please Note:
We do NOT accept ticket requests for Easter Saturday Holy Mass or Christmas Eve midnight Mass as there are not enough tickets provided by the Vatican for us to guarantee a place.
We will however accept requests for other Masses around the Easter and Christmas period but these must be made well in advance as again places are limited.
For information of upcoming Masses or Liturgical Celebrations
Please here:
Official Liturgical Calendar from the Vatican
| Pope Official Liturgical Calendar |
 |
Papal Basilica of Saint Peter - Vatican
General Information: fax +39.06.698.85518
Sacristy +39.06.698.83712
Daily Mass Schedule:
9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 17 hs.
Sundays and Holiday Mass Schedule:
9 - 10.30 - 11.30 - 12.15 - 13 - 16 - 17.30 hs.
Only for information concerning the celebration of Sacraments:
Baptism of newborn babies, Confirmation of adults, Marriages
Parish Office: fax +39.06.698.85793
Basilica of Saint John Lateran
Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano, 4
Sacristy +39.06.69886433
Parish Office +39.06.69886433
Mass Times:
Winter Schedule: 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 17 (Sunday 17-18)
Summer Schedule: 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 18
Basilica of Saint Mary Major
Via Liberiana, 27
Sacristy +39.06.483195
Parish Office - Via Carlo Alberto, 47 +39.06.4465836
Reception - Via Liberiana, 27 +39.06.4814287
Mass Times:
Sunday: 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 18hs
Monday-Saturday: 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11,15 - 12 - 18 hs
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Via Ostiense, 186
Sacristy +39.06.5410341/5410342/5410343
Parish Office +39.06.5410178
Mass Times:
Winter Schedule: Sunday: 7 - 8 - 9 - 10.30 - 17.45 (Daylight saving) - 18 (standard time)
Summer Schedule: Monday - Friday: 7 - 8 - 9 - 10.30 - 12 - 18 (
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