Head Covering Not Needed for Touring Vatican

Dear Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee,

We'll be traveling to Italy and one of our stops includes Vatican City where we will tour St. Peter's Basilica and hope to attend an audience with the Pope. Since this is the center of Catholicism, do you know how strict the church is about women wearing head covering? I've seen some information that states you cannot enter St. Peter's without "proper attire." What is the church etiquette?

Signed,

Help

Dear Help,

Unless the policy has changed, it is not necessary to wear a head covering in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City nor at St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice. However, both churches do require proper attire, which means no shorts and no sleeveless tops or bare shoulders.

The Pope holds weekly Wednesday audiences. Free tickets can be picked up the preceding day or morning before the audience.

Go to the Vatican website for updated information: www.vatican.va