If you’re getting married this year, during the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year (2025), here are three things you can do:
1. Have your honeymoon in Italy.
Top romantic places include:
a. Milan
b. Como
c. Rome
2. Enter the Holy Doors (opened only every 25 years), also known as Portas Santas/ Holy Doors in Rome’s basilicas.
In Rome, the Holy Door is located in each of the Four Major Basilicas of Rome:
- St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican): The queue entering the basilica leads right through this Porta Santa.
- San Giovanni Laterano: Rome’s official cathedral.
- San Paolo fuori le Mura: Located outside the city walls.
- Sta. Maria Maggiore: One of the biggest (major, thus, maggiore) and oldest churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
3. While in Rome, attend the Papal Audience (Udenzia Generale). This happens every Wednesday at the Vatican City. Absolutely FREE!
- Make sure you apply online for tickets to the Udenzia Generale. It’s free but limited.
- Claim your tickets a day before or on the day of your audience with the Pope.
- Be in line at 7:30 or earlier. Expect long lines. Really long lines. Your goal is to get inside the Audience Hall where you can position yourself right beside the aisle where Pope Francis, in his wheelchair, will pass. He will bless religious items and artifacts along the way.
- The Pope may bless your union (through the sposi novelli tradition) and / or your religious artifacts. If you are a newlywed couple (Sposi Novelli), mention this in your request and follow additional requirements such as presenting a marriage certificate and wearing wedding attire.
SAMPLES:
Prefecture of the Papal Household
Request form for the reservation of tickets
Please verify on the website of the Holy See (www.vatican.va) the available Pontifical events with the participation of pilgrims, and type in on your computer the following information required below:
Date (of General audience or Liturgical celebration) (DD/MM/YY)*: xxxxxx
Number of tickets required*: xxx
First and Last name*: xxxxxxxxx
Email*: xxxxxxxxx
Name of the Group (if applicable):
Complete Mailing Address: xxxxxxxxx
Telephone (with international dialing prefixes): xxxxxxxxx
Fax (with international dialing prefixes):
Notes:
Please send this form by fax, post or email to the following:
Fax (+39) 06 698 85863
Post
Prefecture of the Papal Household
00120 Vatican City State
Email : ordinanze@pontificalisdomus.va
* * *
Important Notice: Tickets for ALL Papal ceremonies are issued FREE OF CHARGE.
GENERAL AUDIENCE: tickets can be collected at the Bronze Door (under the right-hand colonnade of St Peter’s Square) between 15:00 and 19:00 on the preceding afternoon, or on the morning of the audience from 7:00.
LITURGICAL CEREMONY: tickets can be collected at the Bronze Door (under the right-hand colonnade in St Peter’s Square) from 9:00 to 19:00 on the preceding day, or according to prior notification.
You will receive an automatic reply in four languages: Italian / English / Spanish / French
RISPOSTA AUTOMATICA: La Sua richiesta è stata ricevuta e verrà elaborata il prima possibile.
Si comunica che i biglietti d’accesso per le Udienze Generali del mercoledì sono sempre disponibili. * Si richiede pertanto di INVIARE UNA SOLA E-MAIL PER RICHIESTA SENZA SOLLECITARNE RISPOSTA ONDE EVITARE DOPPIONI E/O DISGUIDI.
Tuttavia, a causa del grande numero di richieste che pervengono quotidianamente agli Uffici di questa Prefettura, potrebbe verificarsi che non si riceva in tempi utili la risposta contenente i dettagli della Sua prenotazione.
La preghiamo di presentarsi presso il Portone di Bronzo del Palazzo Apostolico (Piazza S. Pietro, Colonnato di destra) e ritirare comunque i biglietti richiesti.
I biglietti saranno disponibili a partire dal martedì che precede l’Udienza Generale dalle ore 15.00 alle ore 19.00, oppure lo stesso giorno dell’Incontro Papale dalle ore 7.00.
Cordiali saluti in Cristo,
Prefettura della Casa Pontificia
*****
AUTOMATIC REPLY: Your request has been received and will be processed as soon as possible.
Tickets for the Wednesday General Audiences are always available. It is therefore requested to SEND ONLY ONE EMAIL PER REQUEST WITHOUT FOLLOWING UP, TO AVOID DUPLICATES AND/OR MISUNDERSTANDINGS.
However, due to the daily numerous requests received, it may occur that you may not receive a reply in time.
Therefore, you are kindly invited to come to the Bronze Door of the Apostolic Palace (St. Peter’s Square, right-hand Bernini colonnade) and pick up the required tickets, anyway. Tickets will be available from the preceding day of the General Audience from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., or the same day of the audience, from 7 a.m.
Kindest regards,
Prefecture of the Papal Household
*****
RESPUESTA AUTOMÁTICA: Su solicitud ha sido recibida y será procesada a la brevedad.
Asimismo, le informamos que los billetes para participar en las Audiencias Generales de los miércoles están siempre disponibles. Por ello, se solicita enviar solo un correo electrónico por solicitud y no requerir respuesta para evitar duplicados y/o malentendidos.
No obstante, debido a la gran cantidad de solicitudes que esta Prefectura recibe diariamente, es posible que no reciba la confirmación con los detalles de su reserva a tiempo. En ese caso, puede dirigirse al Portone di Bronzo (Puerta de Bronce) del Palacio Apostólico (acceso ubicado al comienzo de la columnata derecha de la Plaza de San Pedro) y podrá, de todas formas, recoger las entradas solicitadas.
Las entradas estarán disponibles a partir del martes anterior a la Audiencia General, de 15:00 a 19:00 horas, o el mismo día del evento, a partir de las 7:00 horas.
Con cordiales saludos en Cristo,
Prefectura de la Casa Pontificia
*****
RÉPONSE AUTOMATIQUE : Votre demande a été reçue et sera traitée dans les plus brefs délais.
Nous vous informons que les billets d’entrée pour les Audiences Générales du mercredi sont toujours disponibles. VOUS ÊTES PRIÉS D’ENVOYER UN SEUL COURRIEL PAR DEMANDE, EN ÉVITANT LES SOLLICITATIONS, AFIN DE PRÉVENIR LES RISQUES D’ERREUR.
Toutefois, en raison du grand nombre de demandes qui parviennent quotidiennement aux bureaux de cette Préfecture, il peut arriver que la réponse contenant les détails de votre réservation ne parvienne pas en temps voulu.
Nous vous prions donc de vous présenter, en tout cas, à la Porte de Bronze du Palais Apostolique (Place Saint-Pierre, Colonnade droite) et retirer les billets demandés.
Les billets seront disponibles à partir du mardi qui précède l’Audience générale, de 15 heures à 19 heures, ou le jour même de la rencontre papale, à partir de 7 heures.
Cordiales salutations dans le Christ,
Préfecture de la Maison Pontificale
