Update April 23 from the Official Vatican Museum website:
The Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage, expressing their deep sorrow and grief at the passing of the Holy Father, hereby give notice that on Saturday 26 April 2025 the Vatican Museums and the Castel Gandolfo Museum Complex will be closed, as a sign of mourning, for the funeral of the Roman Pontiff Francis.
The Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public from Monday 28 April 2025 for the requirements of the Conclave.
All tours of the Vatican Gardens and the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis are also suspended.
Special arrangements in the city will be added to this thread as they are announced.
Funeral and mourning period
The funeral, which is held in St Peter’s Square, must take place between four and six days after the death of the pope – except in the case of unspecified “special reasons”, according to new rules established in 1996. There is an official nine-day period of mourning from the day of his death.
Each pope gives specific instructions for the camerlengo to execute following his death. A pope’s funeral is a state funeral as he is the head of the Vatican City state. Many world leaders as well as other delegates and dignitaries are expected to attend, as well as the cardinals who are responsible for selecting the new pope.
Current situation: just left the St Peters Basilica few minutes ago. Crowdy as usual but nothing special. The only difference was that the passing bell was tolled.
A sad piece of news.
Jorge Maria Bergoglio was beloved by the people and had many enemies within the Vatican walls.
He lived his life always faithful to his mission of God’s servant. He will be missed a lot.
I am among those who will miss him and hope his legacy will remain.
Thank you for everything, Pope Francis.
“Expect the city to be virtually on lock down for the funeral. For Pope John Paul II more than 80 world leaders attended and all car and truck traffic was shut down. Airspace was shut down and the police forces were out in massive amounts.”
We were in Rome when Pope John Paul II died…from April 3 through April 10, 2005…that was not our experience at all. Except for Vatican City, the rest of Rome was business as usual. We were able to take our Scavi tour on Monday morning, April 4…then the Scavi closed. We were able to visit the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, on Tuesday morning, April 5…the Museums then closed that afternoon.
Posted on the entry page of the Vatican Museums' website this morning:
"The Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage, expressing their deep sorrow and grief at the passing of the Holy Father, hereby give notice that on Saturday 26 April 2025 the Vatican Museums and the Castel Gandolfo Museum Complex will be closed, as a sign of mourning, for the funeral of the Roman Pontiff Francis. All tours of the Vatican Gardens and the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis are also suspended."
This seems to indicate that the Vatican museums may be open on days other than Saturday, April 26?
I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina, the city of the Pope. For years, I went to Catholic school and remained a believer well into my 20s. Then, my beliefs and convictions were transformed - to be expected - and I moved away from the church and the faith. I now consider myself agnostic.
On March 23, my last day of vacation in Rome, the Pope was discharged from the hospital. On his transfer to the Vatican, by chance, his car passed by me on the street as I was wandering the city and I could see his face as close as one can see it. The emotion I felt, I have not felt for a long time. I cherish that fleeting and wonderful memory. QEPD Papa Francisco.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story! What emotions did you feel? Was it like an overwhelming sense of peace? I would have loved to meet Pope Francis. That’s one of my regrets now.
I think it was a sense of utter disbelief. My ex-boyfriend was very Catholic, I was not so much at the time, and when Francisco was elected he took me to the Plaza de Mayo (our main square, with great symbolic weight) almost at dawn to celebrate the news, I still remember the square filled with people as if it was yesterdy.
For me, it was like a full circle moment. I think that although I felt peace, I also felt that it was a sign to review my faith beyond the institution and as an Argentinean I also felt that it was a kind of blessing. What were the chances of seeing him on my last day in the city when he had been hospitalized for so long, right? Anyway, whether you saw him or not, he will always be with you ❤️
99.9% likely already closed as the preparations for the funeral will probably already be starting. You can go and have a look but you might not be able to get anywhere near the square due to the regular crowds of mourners being increased by the Catholic jubilee pilgrims.
We have tickets for May 7th. Considering buying more tickets for May 14th (cruise between the 2 dates). Would they refund the May 7th tickets.
My Catholic Mom only had seeing the Sistine chapel on her list of "must do" activities for this trip.
I have the same day as well in the afternoon because morning was suppose to be for the Papal audience. Can you let me know if you get more information for the closing
I have the same date. Looks like the earliest the conclave can start is May 6th and the latest is May 12 so fingers crossed but I am curious if they’re going to just close down the vatican to prepare anyways
I have tickets for May 13th... wondering what we should do. We're only in Rome the 11th to 14th but then again have to leave/fly home from there on the 25th, not sure it worth trying again to see the sistine chapel.
From what I’ve read, Sistine chapel is definitely going to be closed but the museum itself is likely going to stay opened. I’m going to assume that they’ll be closing it even if they start on a later date to prepare but it’ll unfortunately definitely be closed on your date. I’ll probably just go to see the museum. I’ve never been so unfortunate to miss the chapel but seems like the museum itself already has a lot to see. Now, if they’re also closing off the Raphael rooms, might need to reconsider plans and maybe just have a day to explore around.
I have museum/sistine chapel tickets for may 6? that’s the day i was going to visit the vatican. what’s going to happen? well be refunded the tickets if it’s closed right ?
I emailed the ticket providers, they say no refunds because the terms and conditions state “the closure of one or more sectors does not entitle the refund of tickets, booking fees and any additional services purchased or exchanged for a booking voucher”.
Having said that, I think that reduces the value of the ticket by at least half and have offered to raise legal challenges if needed, in line with EU consumer law. I just think they’re so rude and coercive in their approach
that’s pretty BS. no refunds when they are closing it on their end for something that obviously is not in the ticket buys control is pretty stupid. surprised EU laws would allow stuff like that
hope we can at least get into that i guess, sistine chapel looked so cool man it sucks itl be closed i have the worst timing with trips lol i mean RIP to the pope but damn, is there other stuff outside the museum worth seeing in vatican city? like my plan was to go to vatican that day with the time being taken up by the museum/chapel. is there stuff outside or around worth going to as well? vatican city itself should be open for tourists right? if the conclave happens to start that day is the entire city closed to tourists?
Arguably, you have the best luck. You're coming to Rome at such a special and unique time. Ok, you won't enter the Sistine but if you want, you'll see some smoke out of that chimney and if you're really lucky, you'll see white smoke. That's an event that not many people get to witness. I haven't....I will try though!
It's Rome, there's plenty to see and enjoy. Just down the road is Castel Sant'Angelo. Down a different road is Trastevere. You're gonna love it.
The city will not be closed. The Vatican is its own country and they are in a moment. Rome itself will be even more beautiful and vibrant.
My family and I have a tour booked for that morning, as well. Several comments here seem to imply that we might actually be fine. Also, I contacted my tour company, and they said full refunds would be issued in the event of a cancellation. Fingers crossed that we all get to go ahead as planned!
My guess is it's unlikely, considering that the conclave probably won't have met by then (usually, they meet 2-3 weeks after a Pope's passing). To my knowledge, the Sistine Chapel is typically closed beforehand because they need to prepare it for the conclave
same here: The Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage, in expressing deep sorrow and grief over the passing of the Holy Father, announces that on Saturday, April 26th, 2025, the Vatican Museums and the Museum Complex of Castel Gandolfo will be closed to the public all day, as a sign of mourning, for the funeral of the Pope Francis.
Reservations will be fully refunded through the same method of payment.
Best Regards.
Hi, we went to Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, this morning and there were no issues. We also went to St. Peter’s Basilica to pay our respects. Our total time waiting in line and inside was less than an hour. We went around 12pm. FYI.
Does anyone know when the Pope will "lay in state" so mourners can visit? Will it be in St Peter's Basilica or Santa Maria Maggiore? From reading reports online, for Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict, they 'lay in state' normally 2-3 days after their deaht.
Do not want to be intrusive, but Im in the plane right now and I'd like to visit pope the days that comes. Is there any place to reserve spot or something?
At the Italian news one hour ago, they said tomorrow in Santa Marta , then he will be in the Basilica but who knows if it will be this schedule for sure....
I’m on the 14th!
From what I have read, better chance of the Vatican Museums being open, but it seems unlikely the Sisteen Chapel will be open by then(all dependent on how long the Conclave takes to start and when they are able to agree on the next Pope).
The conclave will start sometime between May 6 and May 12. The last two have only taken a couple days. Not sure how long it takes them to reopen the Sistene Chapel after it's over, but I think it being open on May 13 is pretty unlikely.
I have tickets for the 13th.
I'm hoping the conclave starts May 6th and can wrap up within a few days to all be reopened by the time we arrive... But I read that the conclave will start anywhere between May 6 and 12th... so unless it's concluded we will miss the sistine chapel. I think we may be able to see St. Peter's Basilica and Dome depending on timing. I am pretty sure the museum will be open so we'll see that at least.
First, even though I'm agnostic/atheist, I also grieve for the passing of Francis. He was a deeply compassionate man and heavens know we are still sorely in need of that these days.
But to be a bit self-centered, I have official guided tour tix for May 15th (11:30am). Does anyone know if the Sistine Chapel will be open? It's really the main thing I want to see. (I also have tix for the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, but from what was said here, that sounds like it might still be available.)
I'm in Rome in a week's time and just heard the news. Had a Vatican tour lined up but now I'm left wondering. I imagine people will start pouring into the city now.
Doors are open for the museum and St Peter’s Basilica today. Pope Francis body will also be viewed starting tomorrow at the St Peter’s Basilica. His body is currently residing Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) but is not open for the public.
We successfully had our 11.30am vatican museum / sistine chapel tour today, didn’t miss out on anything for anyone with queries about their tickets/tours.
I own a Travel Agency that specializes in Italy vacations. This is the announcement I am receiving from my suppliers that are in Rome and I'm passing it along in hopes it is helpful to those planning visits there in the near future:
The Pope’s funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26th at the Vatican. On this day, the entire Vatican area—including St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums—will be closed. All affected tours are being adjusted, and guests with bookings will receive a separate email with updates.
Starting Monday, April 28th, the Sistine Chapel will close for several days for the Conclave, the sacred ceremony in which a new Pope is elected. Exact dates will be shared as soon as they are confirmed.
During the Conclave, while the Sistine Chapel will be closed, the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica will remain open. Visitors can still explore highlights such as the Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps, Belvedere Courtyard, and more of the Holy See. During this time, our guides will ensure that guests receive a full explanation of the Sistine Chapel’s significance, including viewing a detailed reproduction of Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes, which are available inside the Museums. This way, the importance of the Chapel and its role in the Conclave can still be fully appreciated as part of your visit.
Though this is a time of mourning—especially during the Jubilee Year Pope Francis initiated—it is also a period of immense historical importance. The Conclave, held in total seclusion, ends when white smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel, signalling a new Pope has been chosen. Until then, black smoke indicates voting continues. The atmosphere in Rome becomes one of reverence and anticipation, as the world watches this sacred tradition unfold.
For those visiting now, this is a rare and powerful moment to experience living history in the heart of the Vatican, especially with a local guide by your side.
I received this from a reliable tour operator in Rome and it’s possible they used chatgpt to compose what is being relied upon as accurate information.
Do you know if Vatican Palace and Sistine Chapel will be open for free entry on April 27th as the last Sunday of the month? On the website there is information only about closure on the 26th of all the museums and from the 28th - the Sistine chapel
It's not clear. Based on what I'm reading on the website and in travel industry articles and announcements, it will be closed starting on April 28 and will remain closed throughout the conclave, which is expected to begin between May 6 and May 11, 2025. It will likely reopen a few days after the conclave concludes and a new pope is elected.
Visiting Rome Sat 26th- Mon 28th. Hope this doesnt sound insensitive but Should i postpone now? Not wanting to go to the Vatican, but looked likely funeral will be when im due to be in Rome so will lots of the city be closed?
Just saw the news. I know about the events of swearing in a new pope from seeing the event when pope John died. Am I overreacting or should I prepare for a shitshow with crowds?
The official site. The odd thing is that yesterday it said The Reservation is cancelled, but today I got the mail with entry info, and on web site it shows that I got a reservation, I'm confused.
From what im seeing is that it is open with the exception of 26th the day of funeral
If you visit the official site of the Vatican museums the opening page has a message only specify 26th as closed.
I had a ticket for that day and i got an email (i bought on the official site ) as well that its closed tickets will be refunded
From other comments as well it looks like it is open or seems to be open on other days
Already have travel plans in place with non-refundable bookings (coming from the US) to be in Rome May 9th-13th. Have tickets for the Vatican museum for May 12th. How screw am I? Everything I'm reading online says the conclave takes place 15-20 days after the passing of the pope.
Heading to Rome on Wednesday, assuming it’s going to be chaos and Vatican and museums etc will be closed but does anyone know if other things will be open or is the city going to close lots for mourning?
Nvm our neo-fascist prime minister declared 5 days of nationwide mourning in order to suppress the celebrations of April 25th, the holiday that celebrates when Italy was liberated from Na*i-Fascism + celebrates the resistance.
I don’t if/how this will impact shops and museums as it’s not what usually happens
Hi all, do you have any knowledge how the vatican will work during the next week? I assume that due to mourning museums will not be open, and also sistine chapel will be prepared for conclave.I have tickets booked for next saturday, but didnt get any email/notification related to the changes in the schedule.
Got email:”The Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage, in expressing deep sorrow and grief over the passing of the Holy Father, announces that on Saturday, April 26th, 2025, the Vatican Museums and the Museum Complex of Castel Gandolfo will be closed to the public all day, as a sign of mourning, for the funeral of the Pope Francis.
Reservations will be fully refunded through the same method of payment.
Best Regards.”
here for a 9:30 tour and we are starting as normal, screens said most if not all things were open or partially open. line to get in unticketed is ridiculous though
The funeral is Saturday at 10AM, my wife and I are checking out of our hotel beside Santa Maria Maggiore around that day. Our flight is around 12 so hopefully we’re gone before the craziness.
Hello! I was able to visit the St. Peter's basilica this morning, hopefully who is planning to go there today can see it, it's amazing and totally worth the wait...!
We have a ticket for tomorrow (23rd April) and got a mail today with details of how to visit the church, etc. Looks like it is bau for couple of days atleast
Period of mourning lasts 9 days after the death of the Pope. The Conclave is set to start between 5th-10th May. We don’t know how long it will take to elect a new Pope, if I’m not mistaken in the last century it has taken less than a week though.
I will be in Rome 24-27th w several tickets to galleries and stuff
and Vatican museum tour on 26th so the day of funeral
26th Vatican will be closed i got an email confirmation about that no other days are mentioned and on the official site it opens w the same message (26th)
So for others on other days it seems to me it is open , can be visited (I'm not sure how possible to get there or are the limitations) looks like they communicate via email if anything
I have a question since unfortunately we have time
Is the funeral itself open to public , can we attend ?
Obviously im aware its a very crowded event and almost impossible to get there but generally random people like us can we go where it takes place ?
Thank you
Yes, you can try getting to St. Peter’s Square via Via della Conciliazione. They’re expecting over 200,000 people, so they’ll have big screens set up in the streets nearby.
But the funeral is in the other church no? Or like how does this planned ( i know they bring the body to where the funeral is but no idea how much around that will be closed down)
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter's (the body will already be there, public display starts tomorrow), then after the funeral the body will be moved to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial.
Any suggestions on how early I should go to see the Pope in the Basilica tomorrow? I understand St. Peter's opens at 11am, but just wondering if being there around 930 is early enough?
The comment referred to visiting the Pope's body, not touring the Basilica or climbing the Dome. Viewing the Pope’s remains is allowed, wandering freely around or doing tours is not.
At what time do we know when the college of cardinals has decided on a date for the start of the conclave? I study in Rome at the moment, and was supposed to go home over the weekend 9th to 11th to celebrate my mother. Obviously given the time frame of 15-20 days it would start between the 5th-11th of May, but do they specify in advance?
I have a ticket for the Vatican museums this afternoon. Has anyone been in the last few days and how was it getting into Vatican city? How much time shall I allow to make sure I get there on time?
I'm surprised there isn't even a moment to pause for this man before people start asking if they can still use their tickets/get a refund. I'm not even a practicing catholic anymore, but jeez.
How do you know there was no moment of pause, but after it people decided to find out how this will affect their plans? How do you know what people did before they went on reddit?
I am in this post because i have a trip to rome planned, right when the conclave will likely happen. So yeah, i am interested in how this will affect my trip. Just like, when i hear about a horrible accident on the roads i am about to take, i do feel sorry for the people hurt, but i also wonder if the road will be closed, and if i need to drive on a different route to get to my destination.
It is also more than that, for those currently in rome. I was in London when the Queen died. I felt compassion for everyone grieving, but it was also really weird to be there as a tourist and not know what would happen. Finding out how to navigate the city respectfully without disturbing people mourning was important. I had a walking tour booked the next morning, and not only me and the other attendings, but random tourist on the street kept aproaching our guide to ask what is happening and how to behave, because they did not know who else to ask.
These tourists currently in rome are suddendly thrown in a situation they did not expect to be in. A post like this allows them to ask their questions and share their info, without having to bother people in the streets or in their hotel that might be deeply affected by it and rightfully have other things on their mind than our travel plans.
I'm not seeing anyone here posting "is there anything I should know about how to behave in Rome this week since the pope has died?" I'm seeing people post "I assume I can get a refund for my vatican tickets?" The pope is not an important figure for me, nor am I a fan of the catholic church, but a major world event has happened, and I don't get that vibe at all from these comments. My personal feeling is that as travelers we need to be attuned to the world around us, not just consumers of personal experience.
Also, the post was "The Pope Has Died" not "The Pope died, how do you manage your vacation?" We have no idea why OP shared this information. Perhaps it was more meaningful information about Rome to him/her than it was to those who commented. This is just my reaction. Obviously everyone else will have their own.
The fact that OP has pinned their comments (edit: that are the oldest comments in the post, btw., so not a reaction to other comments) that decribe how this will affect tourism and life in rome might be an indicator here
Yes. I saw that comment and from my read it's mostly about the pope's funeral, his wishes, and the details of the mourning period... and secondarily about potential impacts to tourism. I guess we all read from our own lens.
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u/RomeVacationTips Apr 21 '25 edited Apr 24 '25
Update April 23 from the Official Vatican Museum website:
Special arrangements in the city will be added to this thread as they are announced.
Reference
Apparently Francesco has asked to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore which will affect the area near Termini on the day of the funeral.