Depart today on board your overnight transatlantic jet flight to Rome, arriving the following day. Enjoy a full meal service as well as in-flight entertainment such as movies, music, etc.
Upon arrival at the Rome International Airport (FCO), we will collect our luggage at baggage claim and continue to the arrivals hall to meet our pilgrimage director. We will then be escorted to our deluxe motorcoach for our hotel transfer to the city. After arriving at our guesthouse accommodations, we will have time to unpack and freshen up, followed by a brief orientation. We will then begin our Jubilee pilgrimage with a welcome Mass in the guesthouse chapel. Following lunch, we make our way to the side entrance of the Vatican where the Swiss Guard will permit us to enter as we participate in a privately guided tour of the Necropolis underneath the Basilica. The Scavi tour culminates with the veneration of the bones of our first Pope, St. Peter. After the Scavi tour, we will visit the breathtaking St. Peter's Basilica. We will gather in the evening for a festive welcome dinner (included), served with local wine. Overnight in Rome. (B, D)
After an early breakfast with the sisters, we leave for St. Peter's Square to get front row seats for the Wednesday Papal Audience. After the audience, we return back to our guesthouse for Mass in the guesthouse chapel. Following Mass, we make our way to central Rome for lunch in Piazza Navona and a leisurely walking tour of the historic city center. During our afternoon stroll, we will visit some of the most beloved sites of Rome, including Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Caravaggios at St. Louis of the French, St. Mary above Minerva, and the Gesú, culminating in free time for dinner on our own. Overnight in Rome. (B)
After breakfast, we will board our motorcoach for a tour of Catholic Rome with stops at the major religious sites of the city. We first celebrate Mass at St. Mary Major, the largest church in Rome dedicated to Our Lady. We will make our way to the basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem to venerate some of the holiest relics in Rome. Some include fragments of the True Cross, a thorn from the Crown of Thorns, and Doubting Thomas' finger. We then make our way to the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the official Cathedral of the Pope. Amongst the many holy relics in the archbasilica, special attention is given to the craniums of Ss. Peter & Paul. Afterwards, we will cross the street for the blessed opportunity to ascend the Holy Steps, the very steps that Christ ascended to meet with Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. Following lunch, we conclude our tour with a visit to the basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. After our transfer back to our guesthouse, enjoy a free evening and dinner on your own. Overnight in Rome. (B)
After an early breakfast, we will board a private motorcoach for our journey to Assisi. Upon our arrival, we will visit and celebrate Mass in the breathtaking basilica of St. Mary of the Angels which houses St. Francis’ Portiuncula. It is here that St. Francis built his community. Following Mass, we will venture up to the hilltop medieval city of Assisi where we will check into our hotel followed by dedicated free time for dining, shopping, and wandering the charming streets of the city. We close the evening with a spectacular winery tour, tasting, and 4-course Umbrian dinner (included) at one of our favorite local wineries. Overnight in Assisi. (B, D)
We will start the morning with a visit to the Basilica of St. Clare. While here, we will have time to pray at the foot of the San Damiano Crucifix, the very crucifix that God used to speak to Francis instructing him to “Rebuild My Church.” We will conclude our visit with prayer before the incorrupt body of St. Clare. Just around the corner, we will pray in front of the relics of Bl. Carlo Acutis. Bl. Carlo was an English-born Italian youth and website designer, who is best known for documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world and cataloguing them onto a website which he created before his death in 2006 from leukemia. We will conclude the morning with a visit to the vast upper and lower sections of the Basilica of St. Francis. While here, we will celebrate Mass and have the blessed opportunity to visit and pray at the tomb of St. Francis. The afternoon is scheduled free time to shop and explore the historical city before gathering for our private transfer to Florence. After checking into our Tuscan guesthouse, the evening will be free to explore and shop on your own. Overnight and dinner on your own in Florence. (B)
After breakfast, we will make our way to the Basilica of the Holy Cross for Mass. Following Mass, we will meet our local guide and begin our guided tour of the charming city of Florence, the jewel of the renaissance. On our tour, we will see the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge, walk through the Piazza della Signoria, marvel at the Palazzo Vecchio (exterior view), and pass by the fontana del Porcellino. We will continue to the breathtaking Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. We conclude our morning with a guided tour of the iconic Accademia gallery where we will find Michelangelo’s "David.” After lunch, the afternoon is scheduled free time to explore this charming city. Dinner on your own and overnight in Florence. (B)
Following breakfast and guesthouse check-out, we depart for Siena, one of Italy's best-preserved medieval towns. Located in the heart of Tuscany, it is well known as the birthplace of St. Catherine of Siena, one of the doctors of the Church. We will have a walking tour of the town including St. Catherine’s birth home and the Basilica of St. Dominic which contains the relics of St. Catherine. Next, we pass by Siena Duomo (exterior view), known as one of Italy’s greatest gothic churches. Following lunch, we will continue our journey to Orvieto. Upon arrival, we celebrate Mass at the Duomo, the gothic Cathedral built to house the holy relic of the Eucharistic Miracle of Orvieto. It was this miracle that occasioned the proclamation of the Feast of Corpus Christi and inspired St. Thomas Aquinas to write the famous hymn “Tantum Ergo.” Following Mass, we will make our way to Rome where we will check into our guesthouse and enjoy our last night in Italy. Overnight and dinner on your own in Rome. (B)
After an early breakfast and check-out from our hotel, we will transfer to the airport for our flights home. (B)