The main reason why I picked the cruise that ends in Rome was really to see the new pope, Pope Leo XIV, or Robert Francis Prevost, in his past life.
In the beginning, I was actually thinking of flying from Manila directly to Rome but while planning our itinerary, and what else we could do while in Rome, I stumbled upon an 11-day Mediterranean cruise that ends in Rome. B I N G O!
The cruise ended in Civitavecchia, an hour away from Rome, on November 18, a Tuesday. It was a timed schedule so we could attend the Papal Audience the next day, November 19, a Wednesday. Parang pinagtiyap talaga ng pagkakataon.
I told my husband sometime in October, “hindi ako uuwi hangga’t hindi ko nakikita si Pope. Mauna ka na lang.”
Pope Pius XI (1922–1939) began the custom of welcoming groups on Wednesdays such as young newly weds (first marriage). This practice evolved through the years and was interrupted during World War II.
The Pope goes out to St. Peter’s Square every Wednesday morning around 9:30 AM. He rides around in a Mercedes-Benz mobile, waves to the crowd, and when he sees infants, he carries them in his arms and bless them. During the Papal Audience, he also gives blessings, extending them to the families of the pilgrims who are present in the Square.
Tickets to the Papal Audience are free, but tour operators sell them for a fee. They queue the day before to get the free tickets and they accompany the tourists to the St. Peter’s Square, and guide them all the way to their seats. There are no reserved seats, unless you have a special arrangement with the Papal office. For ordinary pilgrims like us, pila, hintay, bilis, takbo. Unahan lang.
I didn’t want to take any chances of missing the Papal Audience, so I reached out to several tour operators asking for private transport, tickets, and a photographer. After a lot of searching, I came across posts from people who had lost their money and missed their chance to see the Pope. Some were scammed, others had drivers who didn’t show up, or they simply got lost.
My daughter emailed the official Papal office at the Vatican asking for tickets. But there was no immediate reply.
Meron Filipina, named Marie, who offered Papal Audience for Euro 500 with a driver who will pick us up from the hotel. But I wasn’t sure at first if she was a legitimate tour operator. Marami daw kasing site na hindi reliable.
Sa takot ko, I just booked thru Viator.com as recommended by the front desk receptionist at Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Trieste. The service was cheap at Euro 19 per person.
November 19, 2025
Meeting time to pick up the tickets was 6:30 am. We couldn’t have breakfast so the hotel delivered breakfast packs to our rooms the night before. Merong saging, jams, biscuits, etc. Hindi ko naman nakain.
Ready to see the pope at 6:20 am, front of Hotel Nazionale, Piazza di Monte Citorio
The front desk booked us a cab and in 5 minutes we were dropped off a block away from St. Peter’s Square. I was gripped with worry. We might not be able to find the tour office, etc. Edmund relied on his Google Maps, while we relied on Edmund. Ang dilim pa at 6:26 am. Para kaming nasa movie, it felt surreal, Baka ma holdup pa kami dito.
Hay salamat, ang bilis lang namin nakita, thanks to my ever so reliable husband.
And what a blessing, the tiny store even had a toilet for tourists. Len and I found some different saint magnets and from then on, we vowed to start a new collection. Dagdag kalat sa bahay.
The tour guide assigned to us was ________. We all walked to the St. Peter’s Square and were lucky to be there earlier than most pilgrims. We stood in the cold but didn’t mind the wait.
Our tour guide was great. She was the very first woman licensed tour guide in the Vatican of Pakistani origin. This young lady is here almost every Wednesday guiding pilgrims from all over the world. She was always smiling but deep within she was grieving the loss of her 34-year old husband who was also a tour guide. He was hit by a tourist bus while he was crossing the street. Due to the tremendous shock and grief, she suffered a miscarriage. We included her in our prayers.
When the security gates were opened, we all sprinted to the closest seat we could grab. Our guide disappeared because she helped a lady who tripped and dropped on the pavement face down. Me and Edmund, basta tumakbo ako not knowing where to go. Para akong manok na tuliro. We grabbed the seats on the second row in front of the wide screen. Not ideal but basta makita ko si Pope okay na.
Long long time ago, there was a direct flight of PAL to Paris and Rome. I hope PAL resumes a direct flight to Rome soon and if that happens siguro every Wednesday nadito ako sa Papal Audience (joke).
I prayed several times for this moment to happen. And my wish was granted. I SAW THE POPE!!!!!
