CANONISATION OF MOTHER TERESA
One of the highlights of the first weeks was undoubtedly the canonisation of Mother Teresa at the beginning of September. It felt like half the world had travelled especially for this event and we just had to hop on the bus to get to St Peter’s Square. In view of all the excitement, the actual act of canonisation was rather sober: The cardinal in charge of examining candidates for sainthood formally confirmed to the Pope (and in Latin, of course, as did the rest of the event) that Teresa of Calcutta met the necessary criteria, whereupon Francis spoke the decisive words and declared Mother Teresa a saint: … Beatam Teresiam de Calcutta Sanctam esse definimus… A two-hour mass followed, during which the elderly ladies in our vicinity collapsed in rows due to the merciless sunshine and had to be elaborately rescued by the emergency services. And finally, Francis took his papa mobile for a spin through the freaking crowds.
(Confessio Romana p. 9)
The probability of meeting the Holy Father by chance on the street is relatively manageable or even impossible. More promising, on the other hand, is to go to the Vatican on Wednesdays. In good weather on St. Peter’s Square, in bad weather in the audience hall, the Holy Father’s general audience always takes place there in the morning. Free tickets for these events can be booked online at the Pilgrimage Centre. Admission tickets for the liturgical celebrations, on the other hand, which Francis occasionally celebrates in St. Peter’s Basilica or other basilicas in the city, must also be ordered through the Pilgrims’ Office, but only by fax. For the masses in St Peter’s Square, you can also try your luck with the Swiss Guards, who often have a few tickets lying around in their guardhouses.
(Confessio Romana p.70)