Pilgrims in Rome - Audiences with the Pope

Dispelling the Myths Behind the Papal Audience

Rome guidebooks are jam packed with tips and facts about Rome. Somewhere in the endless pages, you will inevitably read about the weekly phenomenon known as the Papal Audience. Before living in Rome, the phrase brought to mind images of an intimate tete-a-tete at the Papal palace with the man with the big hat (not to mention the ring).

Truth be told, a Papal Audience is quite the contrary. Between three and five thousand people gather in St. Peter’s Square for each papal audience and sit and listen while the pope greets the crowd and says mass in many different languages. Guest speakers, choirs, and performers are often invited to participate as well.

Many plan their visits to Rome years in advance, and looking forward to an audience with the Pope can be quite consuming. Such a pity that they will return home without a photo with their arm around his holiness to mount over the mantelpiece, or something to show their children, their children’s children, and anyone else who will listen to their tale of an encounter with the Holy Father. Sure, photographs are allowed, but the chances of actually getting close enough to shoot anything more than the top of his head are not good.

One can sense the disappointment on the faces and in the hearts of the pilgrims who come to St. Peter’s on a Wednesday. As they step out of their taxis, or down from their buses, or up out of the Metropolitana to present their General Audience tickets, at a certain point it becomes evident to them that there are several thousand people in the immediate area with the very same tickets, and this can be devastating.

I must say, most do make the best of it. They find a place to sit (better get there early if you have plans of sitting), or just stand there in the piazza and crane their necks to view the holy father, who stands about a hundred 150 meters away. Newlyweds, however, are invited to sit in the first few rows, provided they appear in their wedding attire and toting their marriage certificate. The Pope will usually shake hands and bless their new marriage.

As for the rest of us, we may still return home and tell our children about our adventures in Rome and the audience with the Holy Father, but in our minds it is usually nothing like what we had imagined it would be.

Article contributed by Danielle Russo, Director of When In Rome Tours, a company that has led Vatican Tours and Rome Sightseeing Tours since 1999.

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