Every Wednesday when the Pope is in Rome, there is an audience with the Pope in the form of a General Audience.
On this page you can reserve free tickets for the Holy Father’s public audiences and get all the information you need.
When can you see the Pope?
There is currently no published long-term schedule for the Pope, but there are some empirical values for when the Holy Father can be seen in public.
Noon prayer: On Sundays and holidays at 12 noon, Pope Francis gives an address from a window of the Apostolic Palace and ends with a prayer. The address can be viewed from St. Peter’s Square without reservations.
Masses: There is a fixed calendar of Masses that the Holy Father usually attends. In addition to Easter, Pentecost and Christmas, these are June 29, August 15, November 1 and December 8. In addition, some Masses are announced at short notice.
Audiences: The Pope’s general audiences are always held on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. when the Pope is in Rome. There are usually no audiences in July. See our Reservation Form for all dates for which complimentary tickets are available.
How to Get Papal Audience Tickets
Free tickets are required to enter the audience with the Pope. Tickets can be ordered online here until the 2nd Friday before the audience and picked up at the German Pilgrim Center the day before the audience. You can also write to the Prefecture of the Papal Household and pick up the tickets from the Swiss Guard at the Bronze Gate, the entrance to the Apostolic Palace, the day before the audience.
The pilgrim center is located at Via del Banco di Santo Spirito 56 . If you are coming from Castel Sant’Angelo, cross the Ponte Sant’Angelo and go straight on. The Pilgrim Center is on your right.
Tickets can be picked up on Tuesday before the Audience from 10:00 to 16:00. It is not possible to pick up tickets on Wednesday. It is not possible to send tickets by e-mail.
Some tour operators offer guided tours or hotel pickup for the Papal Audience. In this case, the tour operator will take care of the tickets. The tour guide will make sure you get good seats so you can see the Pope up close. He will also provide information about the schedule and historical background.
Reserve online here for free!
Use this form to reserve your free invitation cards according to the papal audience schedule. You will receive a reservation confirmation immediately after your reservation.
Newlyweds can receive special seating until approximately 4 months after the wedding. They must appear in wedding attire and have a copy of the wedding certificate.
Special tickets
Pilgrims on foot or by bicycle who have traveled at least 150 km on foot or by bicycle can obtain special tickets. They must have their pilgrim card with them.
Special tickets can also be ordered for wedding anniversaries (25/50/60 years), birthdays (80/90/100 years), priestly ordinations and priestly anniversaries.
The special tickets must be picked up at least half an hour before the Pilgrim Center closes or the reservation will be forfeited.
The availability of the special tickets cannot be guaranteed, as the number of seats is limited. No special tickets are available in August.
Please fill out all fields marked with (*) carefully.
In the communications you can give possible additional information, especially about pilgrim groups, groups of altar servers or the like. We cannot process further requests, such as for private audiences or personal encounters with Pope Francis.
Useful information about the Papal Audience
When should I be there?
The audience begins at 9:00 a.m. Admission begins at 7:30 a.m. until the square or the hall is full. For good seats, line up at 7 a.m.
What should I be aware of?
There will be the usual security check at the entrance. Glass and metal bottles and other dangerous objects such as sticks, scissors, or masks are prohibited. Plastic bottles are not allowed near the Pope. The dress code must also be observed: Shoulders and knees must be covered!
where is the papal audience held?
The Pope’s general audiences take place either in the Audience Hall or in St. Peter’s Square. The entrance to the audience hall is under the left colonnade.
From November to early March and in August, audiences are usually held in the Audience Hall, otherwise in St. Peter’s Square. In case of bad weather, the audiences are moved from St. Peter’s Square to the Audience Hall.
How long do the audiences last?
At 8:30 a.m., the names of groups of visitors from around the world will be read. At about 8:45 a.m., the Pope arrives and drives past the visitors on closed roads. He stops and blesses the visitors, especially babies and small children.
He then greets special groups of visitors and bridal couples waiting for him on the podium in front of St. Peter’s Basilica.
After the Pope takes his seat on the podium, the actual audience begins. Readings are recited in different languages and the Pope makes a speech. The audience ends with the Pope’s blessing, usually between 10:00 and 10:15.
How to get tickets for papal masses
For the large Masses at Easter, Pentecost and Christmas, tickets can be ordered directly from the Prefecture of the Papal Household. For smaller Masses, tickets can be obtained from the Swiss Guard at the Bronze Gate of the Apostolic Palace three days before the Mass, subject to availability. Groups should contact the Prefecture for all Masses.
Opening Hours of St. Peter’s Basilica on the Day of the Audience
During the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, St. Peter’s Basilica will remain closed until the end of the Audience. The dome of St. Peter’s will also be closed. During the audience in the audience hall, the basilica and the dome will remain open.
Pope Francis on livestream
Vatican Media broadcasts live all the Pope’s Masses, even when he is traveling, as well as all public events such as the Sunday Angelus and the general audiences. Click here for the Vatican Media YouTube channel:
More about the Vatican
Hello, why is it not possible to book the papal audience on Wenesday November 1?
Hi Albert, November 1 is a church and state holiday in Italy. Therefore, no Papal Audience takes place, but the Pope prays the Angelus at noon and he can be seen from St. Peter’s Square.
Thank you for the article and the tips in order to attend the papal audience ! I was wondering how to buy ticket, so now I will know. It will be very helpfull to me for my next visit to Rome.