Rome: Escorted Papal Audience Experience with Entry Ticket

Rome, Italy

3 to 4 hours (approx.)
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.1

· Kathi_W ·

Oct 2025

AMAZING!! We were approximately 10 feet away from Pope Leo. It’s an experience I will never forget. The guide was so helpful and friendly. She gave us a little history while we were waiting in line. She knew exactly where we should sit for the best view!

· Sue_P ·

Sep 2025

This group was the best! Our guide had us in as the second group and got us fantastic seats - rows 1, &3 right by where the popemobile drove and stopped. She was extremely helpful. Very well worth the money!

Explore our promoted experiences

Rome City Highlights Sightseeing Tour by Golf Cart

Rome, Italy

5.0

(1)

Rome City Highlights Sightseeing Tour by Golf Cart

from $223

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour - Small Group Max 10ppl

Rome, Italy

4.5

(604)

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour - Small Group Max 10ppl

from $51

Rome, Italy

Papal Audience with Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square

from $75

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

Skip the stress of securing tickets and navigating crowds with this hassle-free Vatican City package to attend the Papal Audience. Begin with a guided walk to St. Peter’s Square, learning insider facts about the Vatican along the way, then enjoy your prebooked seats as you hear the Pope’s weekly address. With options in English and Spanish, this seamless experience lets you focus on the ceremony without worrying about logistics.

This Rome package is a popular choice for Catholic worshipers
Tickets and a guide are included for a hassle-free visiting experience
Have the special chance to hear Pope Leo XIV address the crowd
Headsets are included so you can hear your guide's every word

What's Included

Pre-booked free tickets
Tour guide
Headsets

Hotel pick up and drop off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

The Rock Shop
Via della Conciliazione, 26-28, 00193 Roma RM, Italy
Look for Brastours sign in front of The Rock Shop. 15 minutes prior the departure time. No refunds will be issued to customers who are late and miss the tour.

End point

Saint Peter's Square
Piazza San Pietro, 00120

Operating hours
.7:00 am

Itinerary

Vatican City (Pass By)

St. Peter's Square

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Most travelers can participate
It is forbidden to bring metal objects, big bags and animals (assistance dogs allowed)
This is not a skip-the-line tour and admission tickets to the Papal Audience are free
Accommodation during the audience is not guaranteed
Due to weather conditions, the audience may be held indoors
No refunds will be issued to customers who are late and miss the tour
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.1

based on 40 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Excellent guide , explained everything thoroughly

Marthahall_R, Mar 2026

Lots of walking , but worth it . You skip the line . Guide really knew his stuff . Well worth the price .

This Spanish guide was...

Elena_S, Feb 2026

This Spanish guide was too slow. She took forever to take us to do the line. When we arrive we where almost at the end in the auditorium although we arrived at 6:45 am.

I thought we will skip...

MarryAnn_B, Jan 2026

I thought we will skip the line but still we waited and it's raining but other from that everything is fine, our guide was nice and kind. We love to see her again.

Papal audience

StefaniaM, Nov 2025

Must experience at least once in lifetime. Your guide was very knowledgeable and guided us into Vatican City. Wish she had hung out with us for a bit instead of pointing to an area as the best seating. In reality all seats are good as the Pope is driven around the whole square.

Wonderful experience

Martina_L, Nov 2025

Our tour guide Fernando was very knowledgeable and very nice. I would definitely recommend this tour.

Awesome

Geraldine_M, Oct 2025

I feel blessed with the experience of seeing the Pope. The crowd that we went with had all the same expression.

alright experience

Christopher_J, Oct 2025

outside of getting a ticket if the event is sold out, there isn't much help or additive benefit of being with the group given you can go through both security checkpoints on your own - it might even be quicker to not be slowed down waiting for the remaining members of your group. do see this being helpful for coordinating with larger groups and inexperienced travelers

Could have been better if our guide had not lost us

Patrick_P, Oct 2025

Our guide brought us to the security line and whereupon other tour groups merged in which separated all of our group. The guide got further ahead and lost control of managing the group. Once we got through security, we could not find our guide as she did not appear to have waited for all the group to catch up and rejoin. Because we had no assistance from the guide once past security, we were not able to get into our seating section in time before the gates were closed to the people audience chairs. We were never able to return our audio receivers. Organization from the very moment that we met was haphazard, and that there were far too many people all trying to have their names located on the rosters. It could have been better organized, which would have assisted in getting our tour group out of the initial waiting area in a more prompt manner.

St Peter's Basillica

Michael_T, Oct 2025

Waited outside in line to enter Basillica, 1000(s) of people waiting. Pressed against each orher aw line progressed. Inside Basillica was not able to be in area that bronze statue of Peter is at. Gated off . Made pilgrimage stood in one for 2.50 hours inside Basillica one direction to tour and then not permitted in center to worship. Reserved for Nuns and Priests. Normal people not allowed in center of Basillica

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Dear Customer, We don't understand the review. This tour does not include access to St. Peter's Basilica.

Satisfied

Theresa_D, Oct 2025

Guide was nice, gave us good history/ facts. She got us in and led us to our seats. Nothing special. But we were near the front

Very Disappointed – Paid Tour Was Canceled Without Notice

Ida_R, Oct 2025

I was traveling with a group of 15 people coming from a Medjugorje pilgrimage, and we were all looking forward to this tour to see our new Pope. When we arrived, Brastours informed us that our reservation had been canceled — even though I showed clear proof that the tour was already paid in full through Viator. To make matters worse, we had to pay an additional 300+ euros on the spot just so our group wouldn’t miss the opportunity. It was a stressful and disappointing experience, especially after such a meaningful pilgrimage. I immediately emailed Viator requesting a refund, but the whole situation has left a bad impression. I trusted Viator to handle our booking properly, and this experience was far below expectations. At this point, I’m not sure I’d ever use Viator or Brastours again.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Dear Customer, We manage hundreds of prepaid vouchers every day. Even with proof of payment, when a booking number is canceled, we cannot accept the booking. At the time, we didn't know what the problem was with Viator, so the only solution was to pay for the activity again on-site and then ask for a refund. In your review, you forgot to mention that only 13 of you showed up, but you later received a full refund for 15 people even though you weren't entitled to it. Additionally, the 13 people who paid on-site received a €65 discount.

Papal Visit at the Vatican

Kathi_W, Oct 2025

Best Papal Audience Tour

Sue_P, Sep 2025

Best of Italy!!!

Nancy_B, Sep 2025

Could not have asked for anything better!!! Our guide knew how to get the best seats possible to see Pope Leo pass in the Pope Mobile. She kept her eye out and found the fastest que’s for us. Had a bathroom break before we went into the seating area.We were second row from the barrier, where he passed!! There was one of our group that was in a wheelchair, and our guide was very gracious in assuring she was accommodated. One of our group was also lost, and somehow our God went back and found her!!

Great Experience

William_P, Sep 2025

The primary emphasis of the tour is to get into St. Peter's Square and get a good seat and guarantee a ticket to the event. Pope Leo passed a few feet from us, and I snapped the picture of a lifetime. Our guide was great. But the focus is on the activity not obtaining information from the tour guide.

Papal Audience Experience was fantastic!

Tracy_H, May 2025

This was well organized, we were provided history and details, well as what to expect. The quick stop ant a gift shop to purchase religious articles for papal blessings + a bathroom / toilet! Then, we were instructed how to navigate to seats that would provide the best opportunity to see Pope Leo riding by! We were close to screens and it was a phenomenal experience!

Amazing Tour

Diann_M, Oct 2024

We love this tour. The guide was great and she gave us the best experience. We had a great spot to see the Pope. It was amazing to experience this in person.

Wick and easy

Sharon_E, Oct 2024

Our guide brought us to the fastest lines and shared some interesting facts along the way. No anxiety's on “where to go”.

Still waiting on a response. .

Barbara_S, Sep 2024

Our Viator Papal audience tour will was cancelled because the Pope decided to be in Papau, New Guinea during that time. We were told that we would be refuded the cost but we received an email that had our papal audience tickets available, what's up with that???

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Dear Barbara_S, During the first 2 weeks of September, Pope Francis cancelled all events due to his trip to Asia. All our customers have been notified and all our activities have been cancelled and refunded. If you have not received the refund, you can contact the agency or the site where you bought the tour and not leave a bad review about us, who have been damaged like you. Thank you

Great opportunity to see Pope Francisco

Fabian_A, Jul 2024

The guide walked us thru the area, explained interesting fact about the Vatican and suggested best seating areas to be close to the Pope. They have tickets to enter. Suggestion don’t bring umbrella, water containers or big crosses bought outside the Vatican security checkpoint will not allow them inside. Buy them once you pass the guards.

Highly recommend

MarijaK, Jun 2024

I booked this last minute for my elderly mum and I & we loved it. I understand that the audience with the We would recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to think about working things out themselves, who want to learn some interesting facts about the Vatican & wants to get the best spot to see the Pope. Tour started early which meant we were the first in line through security and our guide Serena was awesome in fighting off others who wanted to push in ahead of us. Whilst waiting for gates to open, there were so many people who had no idea where to go or where to get a ticket so booking this tour just made sense. Serena was fantastic with so much historical information about the Vatican and she told us the best spot to sit in to get a clear view of the Pope as he drove past in the Popemobile.

Great experience !

Ariadne_G, Oct 2023

We're very happy because our guide explain everything about the visit to piaza st. Peter and the papa's audience they help me about was the better place to see very close to us I remember for erer that great moment our experience were very emotional definitely recommended this service theye are very professional and all moment helped to us.

Wonderful!

kathleen_d, May 2023

Guide was wonderful directed us to where the pope passes right in front of us. Very informative and friendly

Expensive 'free' tickets

Xray_S, Feb 2023

I'm just really disappointed that I paid so much for a ticket that was free. Profiteering from a Papal audience left a sour taste in my mouth.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Dear Xray_S, We are sorry that you are not happy with the tour. We can assure you that we are not here to take advantage of the Papal Audience and we are not ticket resellers. We offer a tour at a price that we don't consider high (€25) and we don't force anyone to buy it. It is clearly stated on our tour that tickets are free, but especially when the audience is held indoors, seats are very limited. We take care of finding the tickets and making them available with a guide to all the people who don't know how to find them or who don't want to waste time looking for them. Best Regards,

Don’t pay for this, tickets are free and do it yourself

Jon_B, Feb 2023

Considering we were advised that the fee supposedly involved us beating the crowds and getting a great spot to view the Pope, well that didn’t happen. We were caught up in a huge queue to get through the screening process whilst watching so many other people and some tour groups, pushing in rather than joining back of the queue. When we finally got in, the hall was pretty much full and we were almost 3 quarters of the way at the back of the room. A waste of money, and the other people in our group agreed that it was a waste of money. We gained nothing…. Never again, I’m sorry to say.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Dear Jon_B, We are sorry that you are not happy with the tour. We don't know where you read or who told you that you would avoid the crowd, because the rules for the Pope's public audience are the same for all people in the world and everyone has to go through security checks. Especially when the audience takes place indoors, places are very limited and it is difficult to obtain tickets due to the many faithful on pilgrimage from all over the world. We are sorry that you consider our tour a waste of money, but please know that without this you probably wouldn't even have been able to enter the audience. And we are also sorry to tell you that you should read better what you buy, because all this is clearly written on our tour. Best Regards,

Do this tour when in rome

anthony_o, Oct 2022

Had a great day with mario he was a great guide very knowledgeable and funny. Defo do this when in rome

Special Life experience

Ytala_S, Mar 2019

Wasnt what i was expected, but just to be and see so close Pope Francis it was a memory for my grandadaugther and I.

Correct

Frederic_M, Oct 2025

The interest of this reservation lies in the guarantee of (free) tickets for the papal audience and in the simplicity of their recovery. The “selected language” is of little importance, and the comments relate only to the waiting period in line and placement in Saint Peter’s Square. The performance ends there.

Auto-translated