See subject. I suppose you need connections, and perhaps space must be reserved years in advance but basically I have no clue.
My wife and I are as I type watching the Pope et al do their thing, as we do more or less every year.
I don’t know about how many cardinals are required/customary either.
Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Hannukah to all my friends at SD.
Reservations for a Mass? That doesn’t make sense.
Given that the Vatican’s only special information is the timing, I’m guessing it’s like any other Mass at the Vatican, which means, like any other Mass: first come first serve, and if you’re healthy leave seats for the infirm. There may be some reserved seats at the front for “guests of honor”, but that’s it.
No cardinals are required (in theory, the Pope himself doesn’t need to be a cardinal).
I don’t believe there are pews in St. Peters. So nobody sits there.
According to PapalAudience.org, tickets are always free and it’s first come-first served:
So, either St. Peter finds your name in the book or he doesn’t. I wonder what happens if you make him wait while you smoke another cigarette.
Correct. When I went to visit, I didn’t see any pews. They stand.