My husband and I are visiting Italy in October for our anniversary. It looks like we will only be in Rome for EITHER the Pope's Sunday blessing or his Wednesday audience. If we will not be able to stay until Wednesday, will we feel like Sunday was sufficient?

Obviously that depends on "how important" it is to you that you spend time in the Pope's presence. Are you referring to the Wednesday audience he holds in St. Peter's Square? If so, believe me when I say, you won't have any personal time with the Pope. So, it's up to you to prioritize your time. IMO I wouldn't go out of my way or give up precious time to have a glimpse of the Pope. (I'm cradle Catholic by the way.)

For the Sunday blessing, you just show up in the square. For Wednesday, you will need a ticket. I think you have to pick them up the night before.
http://www.santasusanna.org/popeVati...peVatican.html

I think Sunday will be enough (been twice), but I'm not Catholic. There will be many groups in the square from various countries with banners, singing and chanting for the Pope to appear.

I don't know how the sunday blessing works but we went to the wednesday papal audience. It was held in the square, and extremely crowded and hot. The ticket said we were to be seated by 830 am, and the Pope finally came around 1030 am, from what I remember. It was a long wait. When he finally came, and went around the square in his popemobile, there was a lot of excitement and everyone was literally standing on their chairs trying to get a glimpse of him.

Just an opinion from someone who isn't especially religious or devoted to the Pope: The Wed. event is worth attending.

It's quite a spectacle, with the Swiss Guards all around and the various groups from different countries. And the atmosphere is electric when the Pope circulates among the crowd.

I guess it's like taking a gondola ride or going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. If you're there and you have a chance to do it, you should.

I agree with J. It was pretty cool to this Presbyterian. They have big screens set up, and we couldl see the Pope on the screens before he was visible in person....the crowd squealed as if it was a rock star approaching. We knew to sit on an aisle, so we saw him twice up very close.

We went to St. Peter's Square on Wednesday around 9:30. Some folks had tickets and were seated (yes, 8:30 AM).There were hundreds of chairs all sitting in the hot morning sun. We didn't have tickets so we found a spot in the shade of Bernini's Colonnade. The jumbo tran was enough for us.

I went to the Wednesday Popeathon, and I have to admit that I really enjoyed it. We had excellent seats, but I was with my daughter's school group, and I guess the tour guide took charge of this. I don't remember that it was that early, but it might have been...

In any case, it was fun, interesting and even moving. I am not relegious. But all the many dignitaries, the groups from around the world, the mentions of the various groups (our group got one), the various addresses in different languages... and the Pope... I have to say that I'm very glad I went.