How to Attend Christmas Eve Mass in Rome

The Christmas season in Rome and Vatican City is truly magical, with traditions that fill the city with reverence and joy.

For the faithful, there's nowhere quite like it to experience the holidays, and attending Christmas Eve mass in Rome is a special way to participate in the festivities.

Everything you need to know about attending a Christmas Eve Mass in Rome

If you're in Rome for Christmas Eve and want to attend a mass, you'll find options throughout the evening—not just at midnight!

From the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City to local churches across the city, there are services to suit different schedules and atmospheres, making it easy to experience this cherished Italian tradition.

In this guide, I'll be talking about:

• Christmas Eve Mass at St Peter's Basilica
• The other Christmas events that take place at the Vatican
• Midnight Mass at the Pantheon
• Christmas Eve Mass at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
• Midnight mass celebrations in English

Celebrating Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at St Peter's Basilica

The most sought-after Christmas Eve mass in Rome is, without a doubt, the service led by the Pope at St Peter’s Basilica.

It takes place at 9:15 PM on December 24, and while the mass is free to attend, tickets are required as space is limited.

These tickets do not assign a specific seat/seats, so you'll want to arrive before the official start time.

Being a practising Catholic is not required to receive tickets, and the Papal mass is a lovely way to celebrate.

Be aware that Pope Francis speaks in Italian and Latin during the service but there is a program so that you can follow along.

As with all visits to St Peter's Basilica, you will need to go through security in St Peter's Square before entering, and the lines for this are not short.

Arrive with plenty of time to ensure you aren't rushing!

How to get tickets 

To reserve tickets, you have two options:

1. Email: Send your request to ordinanze@pontificalisdomus.va.
2. Fax: Use the form on the official Vatican website and fax it to +39 06 6988 5863.

Make sure your request includes:

• Date of the mass
• Number of tickets required
• Your name or group
• Mailing address
• Telephone and fax numbers

Tickets are limited and not guaranteed.

Tickets can be collected from the Swiss Guards at the Bronze Doors (under the right-hand colonnade in St Peter's Square) from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM on the preceding day, or according to prior notification.

What if I can't get tickets?

If you can’t secure tickets, you are able to watch the mass for free in St Peter’s Square, just be sure to arrive early for a good spot!

There are chairs set up in the square, which are filled up on a first come, first served basis, but you can also stand further back near the Nativity scene and obelisk.

As these chairs are not ticketed, people arrive very early to get their space, so expect it to be very busy the whole day.

Towards the end of the mass in the basilica, priests come out into the square and give Holy Communion to those who would like to receive it.

Other Christmas events at the Vatican

Christmas Eve is even more monumental in 2024, as it marks the official start date of the 2025 Vatican Jubilee celebrations.

This historic occasion will be inaugurated by Pope Francis opening the Holy Doors of St Peter’s Basilica.

In addition to the Christmas Eve mass, several other significant events and services will take place at the Vatican throughout the holiday season:

• Christmas Day Mass: Held in St Peter’s Basilica at 10:00 AM, tickets are also required for the Christmas mass. As always, the tickets to the celebration are free but must be requested in advance. It’s advisable to arrive early to allow for security checks.
• Papal Urbi et Orbi Blessing: On Christmas Day at noon, the Pope delivers his traditional blessing to the city and the world from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica. There are no tickets for this event, but we suggest arriving early to secure a good spot in St Peter's Square amongst the crowds.
• Papal Events: After the Christmas celebrations, there are opportunities to experience a papal audience or papal mass in the following weeks. As mentioned above, you can request tickets in advance by email or fax. Tickets to all events are free of charge.

Midnight Mass at the Pantheon

Taking place in Rome's oldest standing monument (dating back to 27 BCE!) midnight mass at the Pantheon is a truly unique experience.

Under the iconic oculus of this former pagan temple, the special service usually begins at 11:55 PM.

The mass is free and tickets are not issued, meaning you'll need to arrive at least one hour early to secure one of the limited spaces.

Unlike other churches that offer a Christmas eve mass, the Pantheon does not have any Christmas Day masses and is closed all day.

Christmas Mass at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

The Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome’s oldest and most significant Marian site (a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary) is a coveted location to experience Christmas Eve mass.

This basilica was where the tradition of Christmas Eve Mass was first celebrated, and for centuries, it served as the setting for holy mass.

Known as the “Bethlehem of the West,” it also houses a relic of the crib believed to have held the baby Jesus.

Tickets are required for the Christmas Eve mass and can be requested in advance through the Basilica's website.

This is less popular with visitors to Rome so it's not as hard to get tickets (even though the church is stunning at Christmas!) and is a good backup if the Vatican doesn't work out.

Midnight Mass services in English 

If you're looking for a more laid-back service without the crowds of the Vatican, Rome has several masses held in English for you to attend.

All Saints’ Anglican Church

A few blocks from Piazza di Spagna on Via del Babuino, you'll find the All Saints' Anglican Church where you can attend an English-language Christmas Eve mass at 11:30 PM.

St Patrick’s Catholic American Parish

St Patrick's is a church serving the American and English-speaking community in Rome.

It's located a few steps away from Via Veneto and the Villa Borghese gardens.

They host several events on Christmas Eve:

• Children's/Family mass at 4:30 PM
• Christmas Eve concert and carolling at 7:00 PM
• Christmas Vigil mass at 8:00 PM

Sant'Isidoro Church

This Irish Franciscan church, which is just steps from Piazza Barberini, hosts an English-language mass at 9:00 PM on Christmas Eve.

No tickets are required to attend the masses held at this church.

St Paul’s Within-the-Walls

Located on Via Nazionale, St Paul’s Within-the-Walls is a historic Episcopal church known for its welcoming community and stunning mosaics.

Not to be confused with the much bigger St Paul's Outside the Walls, this multi-lingual church hosts a special Christmas Eve service at 10:00 PM and a Christmas Day mass at 10:30 AM.

While you don't need a ticket to participate, it’s best to arrive early to secure a good seat for this popular gathering.