Full Article text also found on the EWTN Travel App updated for the Ponitificate of Pope Leo XIV.
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The General Audience
The General Audience is held every Wednesday at 9:00 am outdoors at St. Peter’s Square or inside the Pope St. Paul VI Hall depending on the weather and season (year-round except July and August).
The Pope greets participants at the beginning from the pope mobile, offers his catechesis on the day’s gospel reading, and at the end blesses the crowd. The audience lasts anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours.
Here’s a secret: if you are already in Rome and have not made ticket reservations, you can also approach the Swiss Guards next to the stairs at the exit of St. Peter’s Basilica without going through security. Ask the guards politely and tell them how many tickets you need. They carry quite a few with them during the day until they run out.
For all papal events, more tickets are distributed than seats. If the audience is set to take place inside the Pope St. Paul VI Hall, be sure to arrive early around 8:00 am to guarantee that you will not be denied entry. The security entrance for this location is on the left side of side of St. Peter’s Square at the “Sant’Uffizio” gate. For General Audiences in St. Peter’s Square, late arrivals without tickets are usually permitted, but all seats will most likely be occupied and you will need to stand.
Keep this in mind: you can get front row seats, an opportunity to meet the Pope, and have a photo taken with him if you are a newlywed couple (sposi novelli)... or in other cases by making a written request if you are someone with special needs or a foreign dignitary.
After the papal event, visit www.vatican.va for a full transcript of the Holy Father’s homily in your language or follow EWTN and Catholic News Agency on social media for highlights and key takeaways from the Holy Father’s message.
