Q&A: Entering the Sistine Chapel
Entering the Sistine Chapel
Question
Hello,
Is it permitted to enter the museums next to the Vatican? I don’t know whether it functions as a church; I’m going there for the art, of course.
Answer
Is this a prank? I’m receiving this question as I sit at the exit of the Vatican Museum. I assume you saw me. It’s permitted. I didn’t go into the Sistine Chapel. Ask the guard and he’ll open an alternate exit for you.
Discussion on Answer
A few small questions:
1. Why is it permitted to enter the Sistine Chapel?
2. Why didn’t you go in? As I understand it, that’s the main highlight there.
3. Is it permitted to enter the Vatican itself? Why?
4. What do you mean: “Ask the guard and he’ll open an alternate exit for you”?
Thanks for the response, and sorry for the interruption..
Maybe I wasn’t clear. The chapel is an active church, and therefore in my opinion one should not enter it. The museum is permitted because it is not a church. And the same goes for the Vatican area. The problem is that the exit from the museum tour goes through the chapel. I turned to the guard before the chapel and asked him to open another way for me out (I told him I had a religious problem). He opened it for me (though he wasn’t very happy about it).
If there won’t be divine providence under the wings of the Holy See, then where would there be?
I protest the mockery in these Elul terrors.
Honestly, no! We’re traveling to Rome tomorrow with the kids 🙂 Who said there isn’t divine providence?