The Archdiocese of New York does not issue Papal blessings. Instead, requests for Papal blessings are handled by the Apostolic Nunciature (the embassy of the Holy See to the United States).

The request for a Papal Blessing, in the form of a printed certificate, should be placed in a letter addressed to:

Most Reverend Pietro Sambi
Apostolic Nuncio
Apostolic Nunciature United States of America
3339 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008-3687

Enclose the following with your request (a sample of which can be found below):

1. (1) A written recommendation from a parish priest of the persons to receive the blessing, or from a priest familiar with the persons, attesting to their good standing in the Catholic Church. In the case of a wedding, both parties should be Catholics. A sample letter from your parish priest can be found below.
    

2. The contents of the blessing, clearly printed, including:
   a. The name(s) (typed or written in capital letters) of the people to receive the blessing.
   
   b. The occasion to be celebrated (birthday, wedding, ordination, wedding anniversary, etc.). Anniversaries should be of a special nature, such as the 25th, 50th, or 60th. Birthdays should also be special, such as 80th or 90th, and so on.
   
   c. The date of the occasion.
   
   d. If the blessing is for a wedding, include the name of the church and its city and state.
    

3. An offering of $20.00, by check or money order, made payable to the “Apostolic Nunciature.”

Please indicate the address to which the document should be sent, as well as the Diocese to which the persons to receive the blessing belong. If you prefer a handwritten blessing on parchment, you should request it directly from Rome. Mail all the above information to:

Servizio Assistenziale del Santo Padre
00120 Vatican City State, Europe.

The customary offering is $45.00, payable to the Servizio Assistenziale del Santo Padre. Please be informed that it takes at least two or three months.