Public invited to attend pope's weekly general audiences starting Sept. 2

VATICAN CITY -- Twenty-six weeks after his last weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis will resume his audiences with the public present, but in a Vatican courtyard.

The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household said Aug. 26 that members of the faithful could attend the Wednesday audience talks starting Sept. 2.

Norms for curbing the spread of the coronavirus will be followed, the prefecture said in a written communique, and for the month of September, the audiences will be held in the large San Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace.

Attendance "will be open to anyone who wishes" to participate, and no tickets are needed, it said.

Since March 11, Pope Francis had been livestreaming his general audience talks from the library of the Apostolic Palace. Aides were present to read the Scriptures and summaries of his talk in a variety of languages, but no visitors or pilgrims could attend.

The last time the audience was held with the public present was Feb. 26, Ash Wednesday, in St. Peter's Square. The weekly appointment had not been scheduled March 4 because it fell within the time scheduled for the pope's annual Lenten retreat, which Pope Francis did not attend because he had a cold.