How to Get Tickets to Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's

If you're traveling to Rome during the holidays, you have a unique opportunity to visit the Vatican at Christmas. If you want to attend Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, you have to request tickets in advance.

How to Request Tickets for Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's

In order to attend Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's, you have to request tickets in advance from the Prefecture of the Papal Household. Submissions after December 8 will not be taken into consideration.

The ticket request must be submitted by fax and include the following information:

  • Date of the General audience or Liturgical celebration (check the calendar here for dates other than December 24)
  • Number of tickets required
  • Name / group
  • Mailing address
  • Telephone and Fax numbers

You can download this form to request tickets for papal ceremonies. If you manage to get tickets for Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's, you have to pick them up in person on December 23 between 9 am and 7 pm, at the Bronze Door under the right-hand colonnade in St. Peter's Square.

Papal Celebrations in St. Peter's at Christmas

During the Christmas holidays, there are other papal celebrations in St. Peter's Square that don't require tickets:

  • Pope's Christmas Message and 'Urbi et Orbi' Blessing, December 25, noon
  • St. Stephen's Day Angelus Prayer, December 26, noon

Vatican Tours at Christmas

Christmas is also a wonderful time to take a tour of the Vatican. ItaliaTours offers an Entire Vatican and Vatacombs tour that features the treasures of the Sistine Chapel. This tour unlocks the rarely seen 'Vatacombs' โ€” papal crypts not normally seen by the public.ย 

For a total Vatican experience, there's also the Entire Vatican Tour and St. Peter's Dome Climb. That tour gives you a breathtaking look at the Eternal City from atop the dome of St. Peter's, something you'll never forget.

ItaliaTours offers many more experiences for you to explore the timeless masterpieces of the Vatican and Rome, including a 2-in-1 Vatican Museums Guided Tour and Fast Track Colosseum Ticket.ย 

And if you're a member of the ItaliaPass Community, you can also schedule a free 30-minute travel planning session with one of our travel experts, to help you build the perfect itinerary.

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