Santa Susanna

The Church of Santa Susanna - Home of the American Catholic Church in Rome

The Pope and the Vatican

SPECIAL NOTICE RE: THE GENERAL AUDIENCES OF POPE BENEDICT XVI:

News about the Wednesday Papal Audiences in 2011 and 2012 (updated December 18 at 4:30 PM):

For Audience tickets in December and January, you can reserve tickets here at our website, click on Tickets and scoll down. Reserved Tickets can be picked up on Tuesday afternoon, between 5:00 and 6:45 PM at the Vistors' Desk in Santa Susanna Church OR on Wedesday morning at the same desk between 7:00 and 8:15 AM. Please note that there will not be Papal Audiences on the following Wednesdays: February 29, March 21 or March 28.

We do not receive tickets for any other Papal events or liturgies, only the Wednesday General Audiences. Please do not ask us for tickets to the Christimas, Holy Week, Easter, Canonization or any other Masses and services at the which the Pope is the Presider. We are not able to acquire these tickets for you, only for the Wednesday audiences.

The Papal Audiences are held on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 AM either St. Peter's Square or in the Pope Paul VI Audience Hall (in August at Castel Gandolfo). To enter the Square (or the Audience Hall), you will have to go through security first (through the colonnade on either side, as directed by the guards.) Just follow the crowds and go early! We recommend that you arrive 2 to 1/2 hours early in order to get a good seat. The Audience is not a Mass, it is a time for pilgrims and visitors to greet, and listen to, the Pope. Pictures are allowed to be taken; religious articles will be blessed by the Pope during the Audience; it lasts about 1 ½ hours and includes prayers, singing, a brief homily, and blessings, all in different languages. DRESS appropriately (no shorts or sleeveless shirts) and don’t bring backpacks or knapsacks. If there is heavy rain, and having the audience outside in not possible, the attendees are split into two groups, one group in the Audience Hall and one group in the Basilica.

PLEASE, PLEASE NOTE that when you write to us, we are the Church of Santa Susanna. We are not the Prefettura, the Papal Household, Archbishop Harvey's Office, or the US Bishops' Visitors Center. With the exception of the latter, to contact the other offices, please go to www.vatican.va. We have had a great many requests lately to arrange Baptisms, First Communions and Confirmations with the Pope or at St. Peter's Basilica. We are unable to assist with any of these requests, and the Pope himself is not available to celebrate these sacraments, and we encourage you to celebrate them in your local parish community.

Because of the volume of requests we receive, we cannot always send you an email confirming your ticket request. If your email or fax went through, please presume that we have received your request and will put tickets aside for you. If you are concerned to re-confirm your request you can telephone us here in Rome, however this is NOT NECESSARY and we prefer that you do not call. Because the volume has increased this past year, we can only respond two or three weeks before your requested audience date. And please note that sometimes we do respond and because of your spam filters, your server rejects our emails. So just don't worry. And please, please, let us know if you are cancelling and do not double book with the Bishops Visitors Center. It really is not necessary.

For tickets, you can click on Tickets to place your order.

REGARDING NEWLYWED AUDIENCE TICKETS, please note that were informed today (November 8, 2011), that we will no longer be given Sposi Novelli (newlywed) tickets to distribute for the Papal Audiences. If you would like these tickets, you will need to apply directly to the Prefect of the Papal Household, fax number (011)39.06.6988.5863, and then pick them up yourselves at the Bronze Doors to the right of St. Peter’s Basilica. Please remember, however, that to receive these tickets you need to have been married in a Catholic Church eight weeks or less on the day of the audience, and you will need to prove this with an authentic Church marriage certificate. We are very sad and sorry that we are no longer able to assist newlywed couples in obtaining these tickets.

The Sunday Angelus is led by the Pope in Saint Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro) at 12 Noon. Tickets are not required.

Pope Benedict XVI continues the tradition of the Wednesday morning General Audience. We will continue to provide tickets for those who would like them. Please click on Tickets and follow the instructions, and note that we do not obtain tickets for Masses . (We will update this website with information regarding changes in the Holy Father's schedule. You can also check the Vatican website for updates (www.vatican.va). With the exception of AUGUST, TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL PAPAL CELEBRATIONS, however we at Santa Susanna are able to provide tickets ONLY for the Wednesday General Audiences. We are not able to provide tickets for Papal Masses. ALL PAPAL AUDIENCE AND LITURGICAL CELEBRATION TICKETS ARE FREE OF CHARGE.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING THE SCAVI TICKETS: We cannot assist you in obtaining these. We have no influence or connections with this office (for the excavations below St. Peter's). Please do not write to us about this any more. If you do not hear back to them, there is always the possibility that they might have a space or two at the last minute, so try and visit their office when you are here. More information on the Scavi can be found in our Visitor's Information Section, click on tips.

For Mass times at the four basilicas, click on Basilicas. For Museum hours, including how to make reservations for the Scavi Tour, click on Museums. Please check all the other parts of this website to make your trip to Rome as enjoyable and exciting as possible.