Thousands of people come to Rome each year, hoping to see Pope Benedict XVI and participate in his liturgical celebrations. It is our desire to help you or your group of pilgrims enjoy a spiritually enriching visit to Rome, and we believe your participation in the Holy Father's celebrations will make your pilgrimage more spiritually meaningful.
Please select from the following common questions to find out more
information about various events and opportunities here in the Holy City:
Can I see the Pope when I come to Rome?
We hope so! The Holy Father holds a General Audience every Wednesday in Vatican City at about 10:30a.m. Public liturgies celebrated by the Holy Father include Canonization and Beatification Masses, as well as Masses for Solemn Liturgies, such as Christmas, New Year's Day (Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God), Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter Sunday.
On Sundays and Holy Days, the Holy Father appears at the window of his study to lead pilgrims in a Marian Prayer and to impart his blessing. During the summer months, the Holy Father imparts this Sunday blessing in the courtyard of his summer residence, at Castle Gandolfo.
Our Office is happy to help you know if and when the Holy Father is celebrating a Liturgy or imparting a blessing during your time in Rome.
What are some upcoming Papal
events?
Please email us.
How can I get tickets to the Pope's events?
Pastors and Bishops write us many letters of recommendation, and people write for themselves (see address, fax number, or email address below). Requests for participation in Papal Audiences and Papal Masses are hand delivered by our Office to the Vatican one week before the event is scheduled, so we appreciate if requests arrive in our Office in ample time for proper processing. We are happy to help everyone who comes to our Office.
In our requests to the Vatican for Pilgrims, we like to indicate any special service to the Church. Groups are encouraged to give us the name of their parish, school, or organization, and group leader’s name, that we may request their group be publicly announced at the Audience.
A special section at the Holy Father's Wednesday General Papal Audiences is reserved for couples who have been married in the Catholic Church for two months or less. Practicing Catholics may send us a letter, written by their priest, indicating their names, the date of their marriage, and the name of the Catholic Church in which they were married, to be seated in this section. To be admitted by the ushers, the newlyweds must bring with them a
Catholic Sacramental marriage certificate.
Choirs who wish to sing for the Holy Father for one-half minute are kindly requested to give advance notice of their request.
Tickets are not required to attend the Holy Father's Sunday Angelus (or Regina Caeli, during the Easter season) Prayer and blessing. Those desiring to receive this blessing can simply be in St. Peter's Square by noon on Sunday.
Where do I go to get my tickets?
For participation in the Holy Father's Wednesday General Papal Audiences, biglietti, or ticket invitations, are issued by the Vatican the morning prior to the Audience and can be picked up here at our Office on Via dell'Umilta, 30, on Tuesday afternoons prior to the Audience, between 3pm and 7pm (in emergency, on Wednesday mornings after 7am). Ticket invitations for the Papal Masses, if held on a Sunday, are usually available by the Thursday or Friday prior to the Mass (in emergency, Saturday morning or Sunday en route to the Mass). It is not possible for tickets to be delivered. When you come to pick up your tickets, we are happy to give you a brief introduction to the Papal event and answer any questions you may have about it, including location, time, length, and nature.
We try to honor all requests. Ticket invitations are gratis, a gift of the Holy Father, and there is no charge for our service, which is sponsored by the:
Pontifical North American College
and the:
The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.
Is there a dress code?
Dress in good taste is requested. Shoulders must be covered. Shorts are not permitted, and skirts should fall in length below the knee. A head covering is not necessary, however, in the summer sun it may be helpful.
At
what time are Masses at the major Basilicas of Rome?
Click
here for a list of Masses at the major basilicas in Rome.
How do I arrange a tour of the
Vatican Museum or Vatican Gardens?
In order to make reservations for Guided Tours of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Gardens, please contact the Guided Tours Office of the Vatican by phone, email or fax.
Guided Tours for Individuals
You may reserve by Phone: 011/3906/69884676
Fax: 011/3906/69885100
Email: visiteguidate.musei@scv.va
Vatican Gardens: (2 hours) Є 9,00 Є 7,00 *reduced rate
From March – October: Tuesday – Thursday – Saturday
From November – February : Every Satruday except on those in which Papal Ceremonies are held.
Tours leave at 10:00 a.m.
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel: (2 hours) Є 19.50 Є15,50 *reduced rate
If you reserve by fax or e-mail please write your address in Rome. The reservation is confirmed only by phoning us between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. the very same day of the visit.
Tours leave every day in the morning at 10:30 a.m. from Monday through Friday,
on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
*Reduced rate: students under the age of 14 and students under the age of 26 only with valid international student card.
Guided Tours for Groups
You may reserve by Phone: 011/3906/698-83145
Fax: 011/3906/698-83578
(A) Vatican Gardens: (2 hrs) - Є 9,00 - *reduced rate Є 7,00
(B) Vatican Gardens & Sistine Chapel: (3 hrs) - Є 21,00 *reduced rate Є 15,00
(C) Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel: (3 hrs) - Є 18,50 *reduced rate Є 14,50
(B) and (C) tours rates include the Vatican Museums entrance ticket
Reservations
Guided tours to the Vatican Gardens and Sistine Chapel are only organized in the morning, from Monday through Saturday except on Wednesdays, tours to the Museums & Sistine Chapel are available every day but Sundays. It is necessary to book at least 15-20 days in advance. For the reservation send a fax indicating the kind of the guided tour requested, the date and the approximate number of participants. Then, 7 days before the tour takes place, send us a fax with definitive confirmation. Lacking to receive it, this Office will automatically cancel your booking, without further warning. Groups with less than 20 visitors will pay the minimum guided tour fee for 20 visitors. To obtain the above reduced rate Pilgrimages have to show the day of the visit a request on letterhead of the local Diocese. Schools have to show a request on letterhead of the school signed by the Principal.
**Individual or group tours to the Museums and the Sistine Chapel are available everyday but Sundays.
.
How do I arrange a scavi tour?
To apply for a Scavi Tour to the Tomb of St. Peter, we have been instructed by the Ufficio Scavi to advise people to apply directly to the Scavi Office by fax or by email. That office is very efficient and able to negotiate times directly with those who want reservations. Letters of application should include the dates of preference and an address at home for their direct contact. It is also wise to indicate the place of lodging in Rome giving an accurate telephone number for further contact. No children under the age of 15 are admitted.
Excavations Office:
Ufficio Scavi Fax 39.06.6987.3017
Fabbrica di San Pietro Tel. 39.06.6988.5318
00120 Citta del Vaticano
E-MAIL scavi@fsp.va
Vatican
Excavations Office Online
Where
can I stay in Rome?
Below
are some lists of Religious Guest Houses that you may find helpful:
Pensioni
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Religoius
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More
Religious Houses [word][acrobat]
Our street address in Rome is Via dell'Umilta, 30. We are conveniently located in the historic center of Rome, between the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Venezia. We hope to assist all visitors to enjoy a spiritually rewarding visit to Rome!
Monsignor Roger C. Roensch - Director
Welcome to Rome!
Bishops' Office for United States Visitors to the Vatican
North American College - Casa Santa Maria
Via dell'Umilta, 30 -- 00187 Rome, Italy
TEL 06/690.011
FAX 06/679.1448
Email: NACVISOFFROME@pnac.org
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