Papal Audience - Vatican Rome
Join COGI delegates at the Papal Audience on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
Tickets are free and are available to the first 500 paid registered delegates.
Important to note: The Papal Audience is independent from the COGI Congress in both participation and financial matters.
More information can be found on the official Papal Audience website
Tickets are free and are available to the first 500 paid registered delegates.
Important to note: The Papal Audience is independent from the COGI Congress in both participation and financial matters.
More information can be found on the official Papal Audience website
Papal Audience
- Information Service for Papal Audiences & Masses
- Papal Audience Information & Tips
- Papal Audience & visiting the Vatican Dress Codes
- COGI delegate tickets
Papal Audience are held on Wednesdays if the Pope is in Rome, giving pilgrims and visitors the chance to "see the Pope" and receive the Papal Blessing or Apostolic Blessing from the successor of the Apostle Peter during their visit.
The Audience with the Pope consists of small teachings and readings mainly in Italian but also in English, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese and sometimes other languages depending on groups visiting.
The Pope will do a greeting in each language and special visiting groups, Choirs etc from various countries will get a mention.
At the end of the Papal Audience the Pope will pray together with those attending the Audience, the Our Father prayer in Latin.
This Prayer is normally printed on the back of the Papal Audience Ticket.
At the end of the Prayer as Head of the Catholic Church he will impart his Apostolic Blessing upon the crowd which also extends to loved ones that are sick and suffering and blesses any religious articles such as rosary beads that people have brought with them for the purpose of the blessing.
The Papal Audience is usually scheduled to start at 9:00am. However, you will find that many people will arrive early (up to 3 hours before) to get a good seat. Security opens generally at 7:30am.
The Audience with the Pope consists of small teachings and readings mainly in Italian but also in English, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese and sometimes other languages depending on groups visiting.
The Pope will do a greeting in each language and special visiting groups, Choirs etc from various countries will get a mention.
At the end of the Papal Audience the Pope will pray together with those attending the Audience, the Our Father prayer in Latin.
This Prayer is normally printed on the back of the Papal Audience Ticket.
At the end of the Prayer as Head of the Catholic Church he will impart his Apostolic Blessing upon the crowd which also extends to loved ones that are sick and suffering and blesses any religious articles such as rosary beads that people have brought with them for the purpose of the blessing.
The Papal Audience is usually scheduled to start at 9:00am. However, you will find that many people will arrive early (up to 3 hours before) to get a good seat. Security opens generally at 7:30am.
Papal Audience in St. Peter's Square Vatican
You will need to pass through Security scanners similar to the airport to access the audience, it is advisable to bring only small bags or backpacks and Items such as pocket knives, corkscrews, scissors and similar objects will not be permitted through the checkpoint.
When does the Papal Audience begin and for how long does it last?
The Papal Audience is usually scheduled to start at 9.00am however it is always best to check calendar for details or changes.
However, you will find that most people will arrive early to get a good seat. Security opens between 8 - 8.30am, large numbers tend to arrive between 8.30-9am especially during high season when more people will be attending.
Normally a Papal Audience will last 1 1/2 - 2 hrs.
You will need to pass through Security scanners similar to the airport to access the audience, it is advisable to bring only small bags or backpacks and Items such as pocket knives, corkscrews, scissors and similar objects will not be permitted through the checkpoint.
When does the Papal Audience begin and for how long does it last?
The Papal Audience is usually scheduled to start at 9.00am however it is always best to check calendar for details or changes.
However, you will find that most people will arrive early to get a good seat. Security opens between 8 - 8.30am, large numbers tend to arrive between 8.30-9am especially during high season when more people will be attending.
Normally a Papal Audience will last 1 1/2 - 2 hrs.
Papal Audience Dress Code:
For the Papal Audience casual but modest dress is accepted, again ladies should still have shoulders covered particularly if the meeting is held indoors.
As the Audience in Summer is usually held outside and Rome gets extremely hot, bring hats, sunscreen, water and cover up as much as possible to avoid burning.
Men are permitted to wear hats throughout the Audience.
St.Peter's Basilica & Sistine Chapel / Vatican Museums Dress Code:
Men:
Men should wear long pants and short sleeves t-shirts or shirts are OK but no vest tops or tank tops.
Jeans are OK, official rules state no shorts. As summers can be very hot the Vatican do sometimes relax the rules and allow men to wear shorts however it is worth noting that this may not always be the case and the official dress code does state no shorts.
It is good perhaps to carry a pair of long pants with you in case or wear the cargo style pants that allow you to unzip the lower legs to create shorts when needed. Men should also be aware that hats need to be removed before entering any church or Chapel which includes St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.
Women:
Women can wear trousers, capri pants and skirts and dresses are permitted however they cannot be shorter than knee length and shoulders must be covered. In very hot weather a shawl or large scarf/Pashmina can be draped around the shoulders for visiting the sites.
Bare shoulders and short skirts are not permitted and again come prepared to cover up if wearing shorts.
Accepted
Men
- Long pants
- Shorts that cover the knees
- Short sleeve shirts and T-shirts
Women
- The knees covered
- Dresses, skirts or shorts that cover the knees
- Short sleeve shirts and T-shirts
Rejected
- Shorts exposing the knees
- Tank tops, sleeveless shirts, tube tops
- Short skirts or dresses exposing the knees
- Baseball caps inside the churches
For the Papal Audience casual but modest dress is accepted, again ladies should still have shoulders covered particularly if the meeting is held indoors.
As the Audience in Summer is usually held outside and Rome gets extremely hot, bring hats, sunscreen, water and cover up as much as possible to avoid burning.
Men are permitted to wear hats throughout the Audience.
St.Peter's Basilica & Sistine Chapel / Vatican Museums Dress Code:
Men:
Men should wear long pants and short sleeves t-shirts or shirts are OK but no vest tops or tank tops.
Jeans are OK, official rules state no shorts. As summers can be very hot the Vatican do sometimes relax the rules and allow men to wear shorts however it is worth noting that this may not always be the case and the official dress code does state no shorts.
It is good perhaps to carry a pair of long pants with you in case or wear the cargo style pants that allow you to unzip the lower legs to create shorts when needed. Men should also be aware that hats need to be removed before entering any church or Chapel which includes St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.
Women:
Women can wear trousers, capri pants and skirts and dresses are permitted however they cannot be shorter than knee length and shoulders must be covered. In very hot weather a shawl or large scarf/Pashmina can be draped around the shoulders for visiting the sites.
Bare shoulders and short skirts are not permitted and again come prepared to cover up if wearing shorts.
Accepted
Men
- Long pants
- Shorts that cover the knees
- Short sleeve shirts and T-shirts
Women
- The knees covered
- Dresses, skirts or shorts that cover the knees
- Short sleeve shirts and T-shirts
Rejected
- Shorts exposing the knees
- Tank tops, sleeveless shirts, tube tops
- Short skirts or dresses exposing the knees
- Baseball caps inside the churches
Please note that tickets to the Papal audience are free.
Tickets will be offered to the first 500 registered and paid congress delegates.
Tickets are to be collected from the congress venue on Tuesday, November 25 from 5pm -these will be distributed only to delegates with a letter of confirmation of off tickets.
Tickets will be offered to the first 500 registered and paid congress delegates.
Tickets are to be collected from the congress venue on Tuesday, November 25 from 5pm -these will be distributed only to delegates with a letter of confirmation of off tickets.
