Papal Audience

[figment52]

I am arriving in Rome on a Tuesday and doing my pre-stay at the ABD hotel. Has anyone had any experience with concierge getting them tickets for the general Papal audience on Wednesday?

 

[RSM]

Hi Figment52--we didn't use a concierge when we did it a few years ago. We got tickets through a company called Dark Rome. Everyone met early near the Vatican, a guide gave us an overview of what to expect and some history of the papacy, and took us into the auditorium (they didn't do it outside on the day we went due to the heat). The biggest benefit, aside from knowing we would have tickets, was that the guide knew where to sit to get the best views of the Pope. The Pope ended up walking right past where our group was seated. I think we paid about $40 a ticket, so there was it did cost us considering tickets from the Vatican are free. At the end, we thought it was worth it. Hope you get to go, although we are Christian, we are not Catholic, and we found it to be an incredibly spiritual and uplifting experience. The Pope tends to be much less formal in this setting. Good Luck.

 

[figment52]

good Idea RSM - I saw that site but wasn't sure what the guide could offer and your experience sounds great. I may just go that route. I spent 12 years in Catholic schools so this does sound very special to me. Thanks

 

[Rapunzellover]

The audience tickets sell out weeks or months in advance. If you wait for the concierge, you will not get a ticket. Go with Dark Rome.

 

[figment52]

The audience tickets sell out weeks or months in advance. If you wait for the concierge, you will not get a ticket. Go with Dark Rome.

Here is what I found - bold is mine -

If you need less than 10 tickets you can normally pick up tickets without a reservation from the Swiss Guards at the "Bronze Doors" located just after security at St Peter's Basilica.
You can pick up tickets the day before the audience after 3pm until 7.00pm (Summer) until 6pm (Winter). Or you can pick up tickets on the day of the mass from 7:00am until 3:00pm. You must collect your tickets one day before (not sooner) for the papal audience/mass with the pope subject to availability without a reservation.

This is why I was asking about concierge picking the tickets. I do like the idea of Dark Rome though. Less hassle and more information.

Thanks All - now off to see if I can get a reservation for next week.

 

[SingingMom]

Thanks for the info! I plan on looking into this for next year!!

 

[pjacobi]

You can reserve tickets for Wednesday Papal Audience on-line and pick them up Tuesday at Santa Susanna, the American Catholic church in Rome. The tickets are free, but donations accepted.

http://www.santasusanna.org/popeVatican/tickets.html

 

[figment52]

booked today through Dark Rome for 9/2/15...they confirmed the reservation. so happy I remembered this.

now, back to packing

 

[Rapunzellover]

Figment-- smart move. Tour companies book up a lot of seats and tickets are hard to get. If you don't move well in advance, you're outta luck. You will not get them day before unless you have them reserved.

Trust me, I did a lot of private tours on my ABD with private guides. They all said the same thing when I asked: Pope Francis is popular and hard to get tickets for.

 

[Rapunzellover]

Also want to add that I couldn't reserve tixs for a papal mass during my ABD, and the hotel when I got there, said it was sold out for awhile. And the masses are not nearly as sought after as the audiences.

 

[silmarg]

was hoping to do this myself, but there were no papal audiences in July of this year. We did Sorrento/Capri/Positant for the few days b4 ABD instead.

 

[Rapunzellover]

Pompeii is a great idea for pre-days too.