Pilgrims and regular folk come from far and wide to witness Holy Week and Easter festivities in Rome and Vatican City.
The following post details Holy Week (Settimana Santa) and Easter festivities in Rome and Vatican City.
How to Watch Easter Mass at the Vatican
Most, if not all, Holy Week and Easter activities, including the Urbi et Orbi mass, will be streamed live from the official Vatican channel on YouTube.
Vatican Media Live, the Vatican’s live feed YouTube channel. Note: The Vatican live stream switches streams every so often. So if there’s nothing showing in the video embedded above Click on the link to see what’s happening right now in Vatican City.
Links to previous masses and liturgical activities are available on the YouTube channel as well as on the Vatican News website and the Vatican News Facebook page.
Easter and Holy Week Mass Schedule
Here is a typical Holy Week mass schedule from La Repubblica:
The Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday in the Basilica begins at 10 am, presided over by the Pope, followed, at 6 pm, by the Mass in Coena Domini, celebrated not by the Pope but by the cardinal dean of the College. This service typically features the washing of the feet.
On Good Friday, the Passion of Christ is celebrated in the Basilica and, at 9 pm, the Via Crucis in world vision, both presided over by Francis. The procession with the cross takes place around the Colosseum.
On Holy Saturday, the Pope returns to the Altar of the Chair for the vigil of the Holy Night. It traditionally begins at 9.30 pm.
At 10 am on Sunday, again in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope presides over Easter Mass concluding with the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ Blessing.
Holy Week and Easter Activities at St. Peter’s Basilica
The most popular place to visit during this time is the seat of Christendom — St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square.
The Pope presides over several services at the basilica during Holy Week — Settimana Santa, in Italian. These include
- Holy Thursday: morning and evening masses
- Good Friday: an evening vigil
- Holy Saturday: an evening mass
Easter Sunday mass is celebrated in St. Peter’s Square, where thousands gather to watch the Pope bless an icon of the risen Christ and hear the Pope’s Urbi et Orbi message.
Holy Week Activities in Rome — Beyond Vatican City
In the week leading up to Easter — known as Holy Week or Settimana Santa — the Pope travels to other churches in Rome to perform holy rites.
Holy Thursday at St. John Lateran
On Holy Thursday, the Pope typically delivers the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St. John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano). St. John Lateran, located in south Rome, not far from the Colosseum, is the church for the “Bishop of Rome,” which is another official title for the pontiff. After St. Peter’s, this is the second-most important basilica in Rome and worth a visit even if you aren’t in town during Easter.
Also in this area is the Scala Santa, purported to be the “holy stairs” that led to the throne of Pontius Pilate and the stairs that Jesus climbed while bearing his cross. Saint Helena, mother of Constantine, brought these stairs to Rome from Jerusalem in 326 A.D. and Christians have been venerating them ever since.
The Stations of the Cross Vigil in the Colosseum
Another intriguing site to visit during Easter is the Colosseum, where the Stations of the Cross are held during an evening vigil on Good Friday.
The Pope presides over this rite in the arena where many ancient Christians are said to have been “thrown to the lions.” The Colosseum was consecrated as a church in 1749 to commemorate these early persecutions of Christians and stem the pillaging of the structure’s building materials.
Other Religious Activities in Rome Related to Lent and Easter
Leading up to Holy Week, there are several other opportunities to see and/or hear a blessing from the Pope, including on Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday is also the typical day on which World Youth Day, a celebration initiated by Pope John Paul II, is held in St. Peter’s Square.
How to Get Tickets to Holy Week and Easter Masses at the Vatican
Tickets are free, but they must be reserved via the Prefecture of the Papal Household. This is the same process as securing tickets for the Pope’s general audiences each Wednesday throughout the year.
Seating for Holy Week ceremonies are very limited. Free tickets for these events must be reserved well in advance with your local diocese or through the Prefecture of the Papal Household.
Many attendees are able to come by tickets through their local churches. So, if you have one of those, start there. Otherwise, you will need to book tickets by fax. Yes, fax. Try not to grumble about it.
First, fill out this form from the Vatican with your personal details. Then fax it to +39 06 698 85863. If you don’t have access to a fax machine, you can use an online service like fax.plus.
Detailed instructions for requesting, confirming, and picking up tickets for masses and audiences at the Vatican is available from the Prefecture of the Papal Household, also known as the Prefettura.
Learn More About Holy Rome
For more ideas on visiting holy Rome, have a look at the links below. You may also visit the official website of the Vatican for information on the Pope, the Holy See, and liturgical services.
Papal Basilicas of Rome
Santa Maria Maggiore
San Giovanni in Laterano
San Paolo Fuori Le Mura
Additional links of interest
Getting Into the Vatican Museums
Italy’s Most Unusual Religious Relics
Photo © WiltshireYan
Last updated on July 22nd, 2023Post first published on March 7, 2021
