Does anyone know around what time is the actual Papal Blessing that they have in Rome on Sundays?

Is it around 10:30, or more like 12 noon?

I have a flight coming out of Rome at 2pm.

And I was told that if we take the guided tour, it actually starts around 9am and finishes around 12, with the actual papal blessing taking only around 20 minutes.

When I was in Rome last year, the papal blessing took place at 12 noon in St. Peter's Square, and yes, it lasted until almost 12:20. I would check, however, to make sure that this is still the time the blessing takes place--not sure if there have been any changes.

Anyone has any idea if women are required to somehow cover their head with a veil or something, when attending either the Sunday Papal Blessing, Wednesday Papal Audience, or any Vatican Mass.

My friends aware that they are kind of strict with sleeves, skirt length, and neckline. Does it apply for the head too?

We were there in early April and the blessing took place right around noon but the square started to fill up before that. There were all kinds of dress and then women in our group did not have their heads covered. I don't think there is any requirement for outdoors

There is no dress code for the Papal blessing that takes place outside on Sundays at noon. For the Wed. audiences, no shorts, bare shoulders, low cut shirts on women when it is held in the audience hall. I'm not sure about a dress code if you have tickets to a Wed. audience held outdoors in the Square. Dress code applies for anything held inside St. Peter's Basilica. The only time women need a head covering is when they have a private audience with the Pope.

No dress code outside in St. Peter's Square is correct, at least in the standing areas. I saw shorts, cut offs, t-shirts, tank tops, halter tops, etc. for a Wednesday morning outdoor audience/blessing.

What is the Wednesday Papal Audience? Do you need tickets to get in? We would like to attend some type of mass service while in Rome, but we don't arrive Rome until 12:15 on Sunday.

donnabee: I think I recall 10:00 (perhaps 10:30) as the Wedesday morning papal audience in the Square. Yes, you need tickets, but they are free. Within the last couple of days, someone else posted detailed information on how to get tickets so do a search or check the threads. This audience is NOT a Mass. The Pope arrives (via helicopter from his summer residence when I was there), gives a message, greets the crowd (and, it IS a crowd!) in numerous languages, gives a Papal Blessing, usually has newly married couples selected in advance, or some other preselected group, come up to his chair for personal greeting/blessing, and then rides the Popemobile down a route through the crowd---only chance to get close. There are huge TV screens on either side of the stage where he sits, too. Takes roughly a couple of hours. NOTE: some tickets are for seats and some for standing areas. Get tickets for seats if you can.

Masses are said daily in most churches in Rome that are active churches (ie, not merely museums). You won't have trouble finding one to attend. Remember to observe the dress code inside churches, though.

Thanks! Would love to see the Pope, even if it's far away.

Just to add to the above post, in the winter, the Papal Audience on Wed. is held in a large auditorium to the left of the Basilica. Tickets (free) are needed and there is no standing area inside. Proper dress is required. In the summer, a Wed. audience is held outside in the Square, but if it is extremely hot or raining, it will be held inside. Sometimes, the Pope does not return to the Vatican on Wed. in the summer and instead holds an audience at Castel Gondolfo, which is a much more intimate place to attend if you are in the area.

my husband and i will be in Rome on holiday during end nov and early dec.My 25th wedding anniversary happens to be on 1st of Dec and its a wednesday ..the day of the Papal Blessing! ..so is it possible to get a personal papal blessing or for His Holiness to bless our rings?..what is the procedure can anyone guide me?
....would appreciate your help...

You can find all of this information on the website for Santa Susanna (www.santasusanna.org). This is the American Catholic Church in Rome.
Sorry, maria but the papal blessing for marrieds is only for newlyweds (within the past 8 weeks). It is not really an individual blessing, the newlyweds sit in a special section in their wedding clothes.
The Pope could not possibly do personal blessings. There would be hundreds of people every time.

thnx for the info' Lynnaustin...but it being our special day (25th WA) is it poss to go to a church and get a priest to the bless the rings etc....

No, I don't think so. Even in the U.S. that is something that you would have to arrange in your local parish, you couldn't just go in and have it done.

maria_M

Go to the website of Santa Susanna and look at anniversaries. They will, on request, conduct a short ceremony after one of their weekday Masses for couples wanting to celebrate a particular anniversary. There is no fee but a donation is welcome.

>>>to be on 1st of Dec and its a wednesday ..the day of the Papal Blessing! .<<<

Doesn't mean the Pope will be in town. You need to keep an eye on his schedule on the Vatican website as he often travels. www.vatican.va

>>>
Is it around 10:30, or more like 12 noon?
I have a flight coming out of Rome at 2pm.
<<<

I don't think anyone mentioned this but you may need a miracle rather than a blessing...you're going to need more than 2 hours from the Vatican to make that flight!