We were fortunate enough that during our visit, the Pope was in Rome. We all attended the Papal Audience on October 1, 2014, along with 50,000 people or so! We got caught in some traffic on the way over, so we ended up near the back or St. Peter's Piazza (Plaza). However, the Pope travels around in the Pope mobile and one can get a close-up or relatively speaking, close-up look at him.
The Audience with the Pope consists of small teachings and readings mainly in Italian but also in English, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese and sometimes other languages depending on groups visiting. The Pope will do a greeting in each language and special visiting groups, Choirs etc from various countries will get a mention.
At the end of the Audience, the Pope will pray together with those attending the Audience, the Our Father prayer in Latin. This Prayer is normally printed on the back of the Papal Audience Ticket. At the end of the Prayer as Head of the Catholic Church he will impart his Apostolic Blessing upon the crowd which also extends to loved ones that are sick and suffering and blesses any religious articles such as rosary beads that people have brought with them for the purpose of the blessing.
