September 13, 2012. (Romereports.com) Rome offers many attractions, but one that attracts thousands every week is the pope's general audience. Visitors come from almost every continent, many arrive in groups and will be announced during their audience with the pope.

This woman came with her guitar to play a song that she wrote for the pope and dedicated toward peace during his trip to Lebanon.


This group of young Brazilians are training to become priests. They came to Rome to see the Vatican as well as encourage others to visit Brazil during next year's World Youth Day. But for many of them, the highlight was being able to see Benedict XVI.

“The pope said that any kind of prayer is beautiful and God listens to anything that we say so this really caught my attention.”

Tickets to the general audience are free. When the pope is in Rome, they will either take place in St. Peter's Square or in Paul VI Audience Hall.

“It was very interesting, I had talked to people who had been here before, it was nice to see the bands in the crowd, beforehand playing music.”
 
At the end of the audience, the crowds begin to spill outside of the Vatican. Every audience with the pope draws thousands of participants, which means the traffic police are a little more busy every Wednesday in front of St. Peter's Square.


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