JoniL, if you like one of the other ideas for a Sunday service you might want to investigate what times they are at. Or, if all else fails, have your hotel call one for you when you arrive.

But it also sounds from ky like maybe you should try for St. Peter's if the timing works.

ky, looking at the vatican's website (link is above) they do include the pope's noon message for Easter Sunday, but it appears it is inside the basilica:
12 Easter Sunday
Saint Peter's Square, at 10.30
Holy Mass of the Day

Central Loggia of the Vatican Basilica, at 12.00
"Urbi et Orbi" Message and Blessing

kybourbon amd Salive: Ok...I'm convinced...we'll try for the Vatican...
suze: Agreed...no intent to do Venice twice! Dropped CT...Thinking:
Rome to Venice {train}
Venice to Florence/Tuscany {train}maybe rent car for Tuscany
Tuscany area to Rome {train, bus, or car}

5alive - I saw that before I ever posted. Normally the Pope does the Blessing from his apartment window addressing the people in the piazza, but that's not the case on Easter Sunday. I've been on Easter Sunday before (previous Pope) and mass was in the piazza which is usual. There's an awning setup in front of St. Peter's and he does the service from there. There was no public Blessing at noon (the Pope did not reappear after mass), but he was getting on in years and perhaps that was too much for him. The Central Loggia is not inside St. Peter's though so maybe attending either will work. This is a picture to what I think is the Central Loggia (called on this website Loggia of Blessings).
http://www.saintpetersbasilica.org/E...dictXVI-hp.jpg

ky, yes that's where we saw the Christmas Day message but I did not know it was the loggia.

JoniL, good luck on your trip and I look forward to reading your report! I've seen more written about Rome at Christmas than on Easter Sunday so it should be valuable for future travelers.