I'm headed to Rome. Can I meet the Pope or the Swiss Guard

[RomanCatholic85]

Hello. I’m headed for a new life in Rome, Italy. My name is Robert and I was born and raised Roman Catholic. I want to see the Vatican City State and be next to God and the Holy Father. Please write me and let me know of your experiences if you have visited Rome. I plan on going to Rome to see for myself the beauty of the Catholic Church and the Papacy and St. Peter’s Basilica, in Rome.

I want to travel a million miles, and I will go there and meet people on the street, and traveling in cars. Please help me if you have been to Rome on a pilgrimage yourself and seen the beauty of the Lord God.

Sincerely,

Roman Catholic Christian

 

[onjac]

If you are lucky, you might be able to sit in amongst the Pope’s general audiences but that depends on seating arrangements. You might see him during the Angelus prayer from St. Peyer’s Square. Things do change depending on his schedule but i don’t think he’s traveling until after New Year’s.

If you’re talking about something like shaking his hand… That would require a lot of luck.

As for Swiss guards, you will definitely see them in Vatican City.

You can also visit the Vatican gardens but you will have to make arrangements months in advance.

Also, the lines can be incredibly long.

 

[mommy_k]

You will see the swiss guards. They are on the left side of the Basilica as you exit. The Pope usually says a mass in the square on Wesnesday. There is a ticket office for the sistine chapel and the museum. The Basilica does not require a ticket. Do not go on a general tour group, as you will not be considered a pilgrim, and wil not have access to praying in the basilica, just a walk through.
The line is long, but goes quick. There are several security check points to check your clothing-no shoulders exposed, or knees.

 

[doormouse73]

ive been twice to Rome.

the eternal city/city of angels.

the history/culture/food/fashion… fantastic…

but the thing that blows the lot out of the water is the Vatican/Sistine chapel/Colosseum/old Rome(Roman forum)… the list is never ending really. hence the eternal city…

on to the best part…the first time i went it was Easter time. i went to mass there,at St Peters square… that was the last mass pope John Paul did before he handed the reigns over to pope Benedict…

i was in tears during mass,truly humbled to say the least.80,000 people present…

go at Easter time you will not regret it i assure you.

 

[philial]

I went to Rome a couple of years back. Getting a ticket for the Wednesday general audience is no problem, but you have to apply well in advance. They are free, but you can pay independant companies to do all the wrok for you. All details are on the Vatican web site. Oh, and be early to get the best possible seat - about 7a.m. is good! It’s a wonderful experience, unlike anything I have ever previously seen, and is a mix of the sublime with a carnaval atmosphere! If you fetch the tickets yourself you will met a swiss guard - he’ll salute you, too!!!

Watchjing the sun set behind St Peter’s as you sit at the foot of one of the columns is beautiful. But the mossies bite like demons (

 

[bemily]

I am often in Rome. Well in advance (months) I contact our ambassador to the Holy See and ask him to arrange tickets to masses or other activities the Holy Father might have. With these tickets you can come pretty near the pope. I have a photo of John Paul II taken only about 2 meters away.

 

[PaulinVA]

Just do everything you can to meet the Pope,* no matter what.
*
You’ll be sure to meet the Swiss Guard!

 

[Robertanthony]

If you’re a high-profile politician who is publically and unapologetically pro-abortion, you’ll share a meal and a pleasant talk with his Holiness, if you’re a faceless, faithful Catholic, you won’t. At best, he might accidentally wave at you.

 

[PazzoGrande]

You will see the swiss guards. They are on the left side of the Basilica as you exit. The Pope usually says a mass in the square on Wesnesday.

Actually it usually is just a public audience. You can get tickets for free, try the Parish Church of Santa Susana
santasusanna.org/popeVatican/popeVatican.html

If he’s staying at Castel Gandolfo, which he does during the summer months (you’ll learn the hard way that the summers there suck), he’ll do the audience at Castel Gandolfo.

As for actually meeting the Pope, unfortunately it would be extremely unlikely to do that. Even most Cardinals and Archbishops can’t get to see him on demand.

When there were new Cardinals last month, they weren’t even contacted by the Pope to let them know they’d get the red hat. They were just told so a few days in advance by a subordinate, and judging from the ceremony it looks like they didn’t even get to talk to the Pope until he actually placed the red hat on their heads.

If you’re an American, think of your state’s governor. It won’t be easy to get an appointment with him. That’s just a state with x million people. Take it a step up and think of your president. It’s even less likely you’d get an appointment with him. And that’s just for a country of a bit over 300 million.

One Pope, a billion Catholics, two billion Christians, seven billion living humans. Everyone in the world wants to meet him, yet even most of the senior churchmen can’t. He really is just that busy.

 

[adrift]

If you’re a high-profile politician who is publically and unapologetically pro-abortion, you’ll share a meal and a pleasant talk with his Holiness, if you’re a faceless, faithful Catholic, you won’t. At best, he might accidentally wave at you.

:tsktsk:

 

[Big_Feet]

If you’re a high-profile politician who is publically and unapologetically pro-abortion, you’ll share a meal and a pleasant talk with his Holiness, if you’re a faceless, faithful Catholic, you won’t. At best, he might accidentally wave at you.

You sound just a bit upset by this? A little bit of humility may be in order for you…just sayin’!

 

[Mike30]

You will see the swiss guards. They are on the left side of the Basilica as you exit. The Pope usually says a mass in the square on Wesnesday. There is a ticket office for the sistine chapel and the museum. The Basilica does not require a ticket. Do not go on a general tour group, as you will not be considered a pilgrim, and wil not have access to praying in the basilica, just a walk through.
The line is long, but goes quick. There are several security check points to check your clothing-no shoulders exposed, or knees.

What??? A dress code??? In a Church??? :bigyikes: Doesn’t that fly in the face of modern sensibilities??? Doesn’t that mean that some could be excluded??? What about those unfortunates that have no clothing that covers the shoulders or the knees??? Are they worth less??? I mean after all, we have been told for years that it doesn’t matter what one wears to Church because God sees al of us naked anyway so why bother??? Besides clothing is irrevelent anyway. Surely the Holy Father knows and appreciates that.

I am shocked, scandalized and mortified by this information.

Next thing you’ll be telling us is that women have to have their heads covered when meeting with the Holy Father and that he actually expects and prefers that people receive Holy Communion from him on the tongue while kneeling. I know that can’t possibly be true.

Not in this modern and well informed age.

 

[mommy_k]

Mike30, I didn’t know if u were joking or not-but just in case u were serious, they have fabric wraps for people who are not dressed respectfully. Some people had them tied around their waist, or on their shoulders-so no one is excluded

 

[april32010]

If you’re a high-profile politician who is publically and unapologetically pro-abortion, you’ll share a meal and a pleasant talk with his Holiness, if you’re a faceless, faithful Catholic, you won’t. At best, he might accidentally wave at you.

slandering the Holy Father isn’t appreciated .

 

[LilyM]

If you’re a high-profile politician who is publically and unapologetically pro-abortion, you’ll share a meal and a pleasant talk with his Holiness, if you’re a faceless, faithful Catholic, you won’t. At best, he might accidentally wave at you.

Remember Jesus took the view that it is the sick who need the physician, not the well, and the lost sheep the shepherd rather than those which are not lost. And was criticised for frequently associating with sinners.

I very much imagine that His Holiness takes the same view and so takes special care to meet those who most need his guidance - in other words not the most faithful.

 

[PrayRosary]

Remember Jesus took the view that it is the sick who need the physician, not the well, and the lost sheep the shepherd rather than those which are not lost. And was criticised for frequently associating with sinners.

I very much imagine that His Holiness takes the same view and so takes special care to meet those who most need his guidance - in other words not the most faithful.

Winner:thumbsup:

 

[Cowboy2012]

One thing that has not been mentioned is to take the “Scavi” tour. It is underneath the Vatican, the early catacombs. At the end, you are brought to the tomb of St Peter and can see some of his bones through the glass. They give you a little time to pray there if you wish. There is a small chapel right outside of the tomb. As you leave the chapel, directly across is the tome of Pope Pius XII.
By the way, this is also the only way to get to see the tomb of Pope Pius XII without getting some special permission because the hallway it is off of is a ways from the main hall containing the tombs of popes and other churchmen.
Like some other tours, I highly recommend getting a ticket months in advance if possible. I was most fortunate and was able to get one on short notice by going to the Scavi office on the left side of the basilica, but I was only one person and I was fortunate to get into an English speaking tour.

CB

 

[Faithdancer]

Mike30, I didn’t know if u were joking or not-but just in case u were serious, they have fabric wraps for people who are not dressed respectfully. Some people had them tied around their waist, or on their shoulders-so no one is excluded

I will go out on a limb and guarantee he is using sarcasm. Mike’s post reminds me a bit of “eyeofthetiber.com” which pokes fun at extremists, “cafeteria” catholics, etc. The example here is one of my favorites: eyeofthetiber.com/2012/12/18/lapsed-catholic-confirms-she-is-still-spiritual/