Our pilgrimage begins today as we depart on our overnight flight to Rome. Meals and refreshments will be served aloft.

After our arrival in the “Eternal City”, we will be met by our pilgrimage director at the airport. We will drive north, and, pending our arrival time, stop in the walled town of Orvieto. In the 13th century, in nearby Bolsena, a priest doubted the Eucharistic Presence during Mass and the host turned to real flesh and the wine to real blood during the consecration. The priest brought the blood-stained Corporal to Pope Urban in Orvieto, and it is now kept in a special reliquary for the faithful to view. It was also in Orvieto where Pope Urban IV called for a worldwide Feast of Corpus Christi. After venerating the sacred Eucharistic miracle, we will continue our drive through the beautiful Umbrian countryside to Assisi, a town which welcomes us in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare, and our home for the next three nights. We will then proceed to our hotel for check-in and dinner. (D, Mass) Overnight Assisi

We will begin our day in the heart of Assisi in the Shrine of Renunciation within the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. This shrine was built to commemorate the spot where St. Francis renounced his wealth and family and began his life of poverty and service to the Lord. It is now where the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis lies. St. Carlo – the first millennial saint – dedicated part of his short life to cataloging Eucharistic Miracles from around the world. After venerating his resting place, we will journey to the Basilica of St. Francis to venerate St. Francis’ burial place. Next, we will visit the Basilica of St. Clare, which holds the famous San Damiano Crucifix that spoke to St. Francis, and where the golden locks of St. Clare’s hair and St. Francis’ poor patched tunic are kept. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Assisi

Witness where the power of the Eucharist turned away an army. The invading Saracen army was about to attack the Convent of San Damiano where St. Clare lived with her nuns in 1241. Even though bedridden, St. Clare got up and held the Blessed Sacrament in the air and saw the advancing army flee in terror, establishing “The Miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi.” Also in the convent, we will visit the chapel where Jesus spoke to St. Francis from the crucifix, then proceed to the valley below. Here we will visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, site of the Porziuncola, the tiny church in the woods where St. Francis began his ministry and where St. Clare began her religious life. This afternoon we will travel up Mt. Subasio to L’Eremo delle Carceri (the Carceri Hermitage), St. Francis’ favorite retreat center, where he could remain in seclusion and prayer. We will enjoy some personal prayer time in this peaceful location before descending back into Assisi for the evening. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Assisi

After breakfast, we will depart Assisi for Lanciano, site of the oldest miracle of the Eucharist, still preserved after twelve centuries. Here we will visit the sanctuary of the 8th century Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano. There will be time for adoration as well as a tour of the museum detailing the history of the miracle. After time for prayer and reflection, we will then drive along the coast to San Giovanni Rotondo, the home of St. Padre Pio, and proceed to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight San Giovanni Rotondo

We will spend the morning in San Giovanni Rotondo, praying where St. Padre Pio prayed and relaxing in this grace-filled village. We will visit his tomb and tour the sanctuary of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where this famous saint said Mass. This afternoon, we will drive a short distance to the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel, and visit the church built above the cave consecrated to the Lord by St. Michael himself. After time for prayer in this sacred site, we will return to San Giovanni for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight San Giovanni Rotondo

We will depart San Giovanni early this morning and drive to Manoppello to visit the church housing the Holy Veil of Manoppello, traditionally believed to be the Veil of Veronica. After venerating this sacred icon, we will continue to Rome, checking into the hotel which will be our home for the next five nights. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

Today we will steep ourselves in the beauty of St. Peter’s Basilica, which beckons us into its interior through the arms of Bernini’s Colonnade. We will marvel at Michelangelo’s Pieta and pray at the Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Afterwards, we will walk through the Vatican Museums which house artifacts from around the world before experiencing the greatest masterpiece yet, the Sistine Chapel. Painted by Michelangelo, it is the most famous ceiling in the world. We will then split up into small groups for tours of the Scavi, the necropolis under St. Peter’s Basilica (pending confirmation). This evening, we will have dinner on our own followed by a walking tour of the Pantheon, the Piazza Navona, and Trevi Fountain. (B, Mass) Overnight Rome

Today’s first stop will be the Church of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. Located on the Esquiline Hill, this Gothic Revival church serves as the international center of the Redemptorist order founded by St. Alphonsus. It is most famous for housing the original 14th-century icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, one of the most recognizable and venerated Marian images in the world. Pilgrims flock here to pray before this miraculous icon, which hangs prominently above the high altar. Then we will proceed to St. Mary Major where we will venerate the crib of Christ, pray at the tomb of Pope Francis, view the famous icon attributed to St. Luke, and see inestimable artwork that makes Rome renowned throughout the world. Next stop is the Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian. Located in the heart of Rome, it is one of the oldest and most fascinating churches. The church was dedicated by Pope Felix IV in 526 A.D. and became the first place of Christian worship in the Roman Forum area. Finally, we will make our last stop at Saint Ignazio di Loyola, an example of the exuberant Baroque style that the Jesuits popularized throughout Europe. The bodies of Jesuit saints John Berchmans and Aloysius Gonzaga are entombed under side altars inside. We will then return to our hotel for dinner. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

This morning we will attend the weekly Papal Audience held by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV (pending the Holy Father’s schedule). This afternoon, we will travel to the second of the four major basilicas of Rome, St. Paul Outside the Walls. The basilica was originally built by Constantine in the fourth century over the site of St. Paul’s tomb. It was destroyed by a fire in 1823 and was rebuilt later in the 19th century exactly as it was before the fire. After some time for prayer here, we will proceed to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus and venerate the martyrs and early saints of the Church. We will then return to our hotel for dinner. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

This morning, we will begin with a journey to St. John Lateran, the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic faithful. Then on to Santa Croce in Gerusalemme where we will get a little piece of Jerusalem thanks to Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, who brought relics of the True Cross and the titulus, the inscription from the cross, declaring Jesus King of the Jews. At one time, soil from Jerusalem covered the Basilica’s floor, so it truly was part of the Holy Land. After venerating these relics of Our Lord’s crucifixion, we will climb the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs). These sacred stairs are traditionally ascended on one’s knees in prayer, as Christ walked on these 28 marble stairs at the home of Pontius Pilate before He was condemned to death. For those who cannot climb the stairs on their knees, there are other stairs leading to the chapel at the top. This afternoon, we will stop at St. Clement’s Basilica, built in honor of the fourth pope. An original fresco inside this basilica depicts St. Clement celebrating Mass, giving us a visible history of Eucharistic worship at the end of the first century. This evening, we will celebrate a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

Today we say “Ciao” to Italia and transfer to the airport for our return flight home, cherishing all the wonderful memories and graces of this pilgrimage. (B)