Vatican to Open Entire Terrace of St Peter's Basilica to Public for 400th Anniversary

The terrace of St Peter's Basilica will soon be fully opened to the public, complete with a café and exhibition spaces, the Vatican announced on Monday as part of preparations to mark the 400th anniversary of the basilica’s completion.

Currently, visitors can access only about one-third of the terrace. However, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of the basilica, confirmed during a press conference that the entire terrace will be made accessible ahead of the anniversary celebrations scheduled for November 18.

As part of the redevelopment, the existing refreshment area will be expanded to approximately 100 square metres—nearly double its current size. The Vatican had earlier downplayed reports of plans to open a café on the terrace after concerns were raised about the potential commercialisation of the sacred site.

In addition to the café, the terrace will host educational exhibitions, including displays designed for children, highlighting the basilica’s history, construction and ongoing maintenance.

St Peter's Basilica, regarded as the world’s largest church and the spiritual centre of global Catholicism, attracts around 20,000 visitors daily. Managing visitor numbers has long been a logistical challenge for Vatican authorities.

To improve crowd control, the Vatican also unveiled a new real-time digital booking system powered by a network of sensors that monitor the number of people inside the basilica at any given time.

Additionally, a new mobile application has been launched for liturgical services. The app will allow pilgrims to follow Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV in 60 languages directly on their smartphones, enhancing accessibility for international visitors attending the anniversary events.