St Peter's Square and Basilica
Holy Week in Rome. There are very few examples of Pageantry with a capital ‘P’ grander than Holy Week in Rome.
The Pope himself delivers several masses between Palm Sunday and Easter, and tens of thousands of pilgrims and fellow travelers are on hand to celebrate with him.
The following will give you an idea of what’s going on and when for Easter Week in 2010; most services take place in St Peter’s Square or inside the Basilica (consider a walking tour in Rome to get your bearings, or one of Viator’s Vatican tours if you arrive early enough to avoid the crowds).
You can certainly expect crowds in Rome and the Vatican during Easter Week. But for Catholics and religious-minded travelers (frankly, for anybody and everyone who appreciates ritual and pomp) , the experience of Easter Week is unforgettable.
Palm Sunday (April 17)
Palm Sunday, a sort of prequel, starts off Holy Week with the Pope’s blessing of the palms in St Peter’s Square (9:30am). At the end of the mass, the Pope usually sends a special message – the ‘Angelus’ – to the youth of the world.
Holy Thursday (April 21)
The Pope honors his predecessor, John Paul II, on Holy Monday with a mass at 6pm. Then, after a few days’ break during which you will notice a steadily increasing population density in and around the Vatican, the Easter celebration begins in earnest on Holy Thursday (also called ‘Maundy Thursday’). The Pope performs a rare morning mass at 9:30am, known as the ‘Mass of the Chrism’, in St Peter’s Basilica (‘chrism’ is a mixture of olive oil and balsam, which, once blessed, is used in some of the sacraments). In the evening, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper commemorates Christ’s bathing of the feet of the Apostles.
Good Friday (April 22)
On Good Friday, instead of a mass, choirs sing St John’s version of Christ’s crucifixion. Later that night, the Pope traces the Via Crucis, or Stations of the Cross, from the Colosseum to Palatine Hill. This torch-lit procession is one of the grandest, most solemn things you can witness in Rome.
Saturday
Saturday night is traditionally the time of the Easter Vigil, when the Pope celebrates a late mass in St Peter’s Basilica. This is also traditionally when converts are accepted into the Catholic Church.
Easter Sunday (April 24)
On Easter Sunday, the Pope says mass in St Peter’s Square starting at 10:15am. Despite the crowds – typically this is the most attended event of Holy Week – you should be able to spot the Holy Father, high above the square on a balcony of the church. At noon, he delivers the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message – ‘to the city and the world – in which the Pope grants forgiveness to those present and to Catholics world wide.
Visiting Rome During Holy Week
Pope Benedict XVI
Although these events are generally free, some require tickets (a must if you want a seat, or in some cases if you want to get in at all). Honestly, it is not easy to get tickets – we’re saying this simply to set your expectations.
For Catholics, this is usually arranged through your bishop. You might also try the American Seminary in Rome. For non-Catholics, it’s a bit dicier, but you might try the American Seminary.
The official Vatican liturgical calendar for Holy Week can be found here.
The Vatican museums (and those throughout Rome) are generally open during Holy Week, with the exceptions of Easter Sunday and the following Monday.
Ideas on spending the rest of your time in the Eternal City can be found in our complete list of things to see and do in Rome.
If you need a place to stay, check out Hotels in Italy on Planetware.com.
March 20, 2008 at 6:52 AM
Hi,
I’m having a lot of trouble finding out if you need tickets to attend the Easter Mass at St. Peter’s Square. I’ve seen info saying you need tickets to get seats but do you need tickets for standing room? Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
March 20, 2008 at 8:01 AM
Hi Steve.
We’ve done a little digging and it seems (though like you, we’re not 100% certain) you need tickets to access the main square on Sunday. It also seems that there is an area that is reserved for general admission, no doubt with less-than-stellar views of the Mass. Sorry we can’t be any more definitive that that. Good luck, and let us know how things turn out.
January 4, 2009 at 5:38 PM
I am coming for Easter week, 2009, where/how do I get tickets to attend the Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday masses @ St. Pietro and the Colloseum? Is there one web site to acquires these tickets? Thank you for your help. Caroline
January 5, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Hi Caroline.
You can try this website for booking tickets to attend the masses. http://www.pnac.org/general/visiting_vatican.htm
January 8, 2009 at 12:32 PM
It’s a beautiful time of year to be in Rome. It’s definately not easy to get close to the festivities or tickets to the events, but the atmosphere itself is worth the trip. Book accommodations early and make sure to reserve good restaurants for larger groups
January 10, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Yes you do need tickets. There is airport security to enter the square. My wife and I attended Easter 2008. You need to contact the Vatican directly through this fax number…
Prefettura Della Casa Pontificia
011 39 06 6988 5863
This will get you in touch with James M. Harvey, Prefect
I hope this is helpful.
God Bless
January 16, 2009 at 7:55 PM
I am traveling to Rome for Easter week. The comments about tickets during Easter Sunday are very helpful. Are seats assigned or is it first come first serve with entrance tickets? Also, how early must you arrive to get in to see the Pope deliver mass?
January 29, 2009 at 9:53 AM
we hope to be in Rome Easter week. Is it easy/free to see the Good Friday torch-lit procession? Also, will Vatican tours be possible that week, especially if we hire a guide?
February 17, 2009 at 7:59 PM
I am a non-catholic and want to visit the vatican but not on easter sunday WOuld it be ok to go on April 10 or 11th. SHould i buy tickets ahead of time. will the museums and Sistine chapel be open? WHat do you recommend I do on easter sunday. -Judy
February 18, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Hi Judy. I don’t think there’s any reason not to visit the Vatican during Easter Week — assuming it’s open. The Vatican schedule is subject to change, and some sections will be closed the entire week. And yes, given the crowds, we certainly recommend you book ahead: check out some of our Vatican tours here: http://www.viator.com/Rome/d511/vatican-tours
On Easter Sunday, in Rome? Enjoy the atmosphere! It’s going to be a very festive day, assuming the weather cooperates.
March 10, 2009 at 12:10 PM
I am going to attentd a mass at Vatican City I Just Want To know the timings on the April 5 masses
March 23, 2009 at 12:26 PM
My wife and I will be in Rome from the 8th to the 16th of April. We contacted the Chancery office of our Archdiocese to request tickets. They could not have been nicer. They called me and asked for my wife’s name and said that they would fulfill my request. A few days later, I heard from them that they faxed my request to the Visitor’s Office at the North American College and I could pick up the tix there. We will have tix for the Mass on Easter and for a Papal Audience on Wednesday. The Way of the Cross at the Coliseum does not require tix.
I do have some questions. How early should we show up for the Mass on Easter and for the Way of the Cross? I can guess that it should be EARLY.)
Is using the Metro practical for getting to the Vatican? I see that the Coliseum has a Metro station but I don’t believe I saw one for the Vatican.
Is Easter Monday a big holiday in Rome so that stores are closed and basically things are shut down?
Thanks for any assistance.
April 2, 2009 at 3:32 AM
I have been having trouble faxing my request to the vatican. i am in france and everytime I try the number it does not go through. We have to dial all teh numbers listed correct? 011 39 06 6988 5863. The same number is also on the vatican website. Help!
-Julia
February 1, 2010 at 9:40 PM
I am will be living in Rome during the Easter holiday and want to know if you need tickets to the Stations of the Cross, from the Colosseum to Palatine Hill?
Thanks
~Samantha
February 4, 2010 at 1:03 PM
Hi Samantha.
Getting information on this is tricky, so don’t be mad if we get this wrong. We’ve checked and it looks like you do not need tickets for the Stations of the Cross. There is a private area outside the Colosseum, but this is reserved for invited guests and is not open to the public as far as we can tell.
Hope that helps.
February 5, 2010 at 5:43 AM
Hello all!
I am Patty from the Philippines. My family and I were fortunate enough to attend Easter Sunday Mass at the Vatican last year. We filled out the request form found, I believe, in the Vatican’s website, then faxed it to the number given. When we got to Rome on Good Friday, we went to St. Peter’s to claim the tickets.
I must note, though, that on the day of Easter Mass, the tickets were not actually checked. I am not sure if they were just a formality, but I do not recall anyone checking our tickets before we could enter the Square. Perhaps my memory simply fails me. Anyway, seats are on a first come, first served arrangement, so I suggest you line up quite early if you plan on sitting near the altar. My family and I were there two to three hours before the gates opened, and there were quite a lot of people waiting already. I also suggest that you line up by the gate near the entrance to the Vatican Museums, as our tour guide the day before informed us that less people use this entrance to get to the Square.
With that said, I wish you all the best of luck in getting tickets, and may your Holy Weeks in Rome be as profound as mine.
February 22, 2010 at 11:20 AM
Hi,
We’re looking forward to the private tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel on the evening of Holy Thursday (April 1). Reading above that the Pope will hold Mass that evening (presumably at St. Peters), should I worry that our tour would be canceled? Or that getting to the meeting point will be difficult?
Thanks.
February 22, 2010 at 4:35 PM
Hi Dee. We’re double-checking for you now, stay tuned.
-Scott
February 24, 2010 at 9:27 AM
Hi Dee,
We have contacted the Vatican and there is no problem with the tour on April 1. The Pope speaks on Easter, not on the Thursday. The Vatican Museums are open as normal during the Easter period. Your visit has been confirmed.
-Scott
March 27, 2010 at 11:14 AM
We’re attending the Easter Vigil Mass. Do you know if they keep the metro open later that night? Thank you.
March 27, 2010 at 6:14 PM
Where do we get the form to fax to attend Mass Easter Sunday? What time do you suggest going, or will it be to crowded for safety.
Thank you
March 27, 2010 at 7:43 PM
Hi Meghan.
As far as we can tell, the metro is not open any longer on Easter, though it does appear that extra buses are running. So don’t count on the metro – at least not until you arrive and confirm in person.
Hope this helps.
-Scott
March 27, 2010 at 7:48 PM
Hi Marian.
We’re not aware of any fax form. I think you’re responding to Patty’s comment above.
We’ve checked the Vatican website a few times, and sent an email to the American Seminary, asking if they know anything about a form you can fax. Unfortunately they don’t, apologies.
-Scott
February 6, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Hello,
I am trying to take my mom, a devout Catholic to attend Easter mass at the Vatican for this year’s April 24th Easter. What are the correct steps for me to take to increases our chances for success? Thank you!
-johanne
February 8, 2011 at 1:41 PM
Hello Johanne!
I’ve checked into getting Easter Mass tickets with the Vatican. As it’s a really big deal, the Mass tickets can be a bit hard to arrange. The best information I found on the internet gives these options:
1. Contact your local Catholic Bishop and ask for assistance in obtaining tickets to Easter Mass at the Vatican. Contact your local Bishop well in advance of your travel date, tickets to Easter Mass are difficult to obtain.
2. Request tickets to Easter Mass by contacting the Bishops Office for U.S. Visitors Office to the Vatican, Via dell’ Umilta 30, 00187 Rome, Italy. Telephone the Bishops Office for U.S. Visitors to the Vatican at (011-3906)690011 or fax them at (011-3906)679-1448.
3. Call your state senator or representative and ask for assistance in attending Easter Mass at the Vatican. Ask for assistance in contacting the US Embassy in Rome if your member of congress cannot provide assistance.
4. Travel with a group sponsored by a national Catholic organization. Look for packages that promise tickets to Easter Mass as part of the travel package.
5. Reserve rooms at the best hotel in Rome. Request assistance in obtaining tickets to Easter Mass at the Vatican from the hotel staff.
6. Book plane tickets to Rome and take a chance you will find tickets. Celebrate Easter Sunday at another church if your gamble does not pay off.
Taken From: How to Attend Easter Mass at the Vatican | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2079214_attend-easter-mass-vatican.html#ixzz1DPDxqCRh
I hope this helps! Good luck getting tickets to Easter Mass!
– Loryanna