DAY 1: Departure day to Rome

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.

DAY 2: Rome

Arrival in Rome and transfer to our hotel. In the afternoon, guided tour of the ancient Rome. We will start our visit at the Coliseum, also called Anfiteatro Flavio. Then we will proceed through Via dei Fori Imperiali, and we will visit with the Carcere Mamertino where St. Peter was imprisoned. A holy Mass at Santa Croce of Jerusalem Church. Saint Helena brought Passion relics here, and the floor was covered with soil from Jerusalem. Relics here include the index finger of St. Thomas that touched the wounds of Christ after His resurrection, and a piece of the Good Thief’s Cross. Dinner and overnight hotel.

DAY 3: Rome

After Breakfast, we will transfer in St. Peter Square for the Audience with the Pope**. At the end free time for lunch.

Then visit of the Vatican Museum, The Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Cathedral. Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the

Sistine Chapel between 1508 and 1512, and later painted The Last Judgment between 1535 and 1541 for Popes Clement

VII and Paul III. The primary function of the chapel is the Papal Conclave, providing the place where the College of Cardinals of the Church gathers to select a new Pope. Then walk through Saint Peter’s Basilica, the present structure completed in 1590 was built over the Byzantine and Middle Ages structures that marked the tomb of Saint Peter. There are more than 100 tombs within the basilica, including most recent Saint Pope John Paul II. Holy Mass at Santo Spirito Church in Sassia. Dinner and overnight at our hotel
DAY 4: Rome

Breakfast in hotel, then we have a guided tour of the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. Six Popes are entombed here. Next door is the Holy Staircase (Scala Santa), brought from Pilate’s Palace in Jerusalem by Saint Helena in the 4t century. We celebrate Holy Mass here. We will continue on your pilgrim journey to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Maria Maggiore) and visit Pope Francis tomb. We will visit The Confessio, or reliquary crypt, which lies before the main altar of Santa Maria Maggiore, was designed by the architect Virginio Vespignan. Also, in this basilica is kept a relic that has been the object of devotion for several centuries. It is the remains of the cunabulum, the “sacred cradle” or manger in which, according to the Gospels, the Child Jesus was placed at birth.

Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 5: Rome

Breakfast in hotel. We visit of Saint Paul outside the wall. Holy Mass in one of the Chapels. In the afternoon, we visit the center of Rome where we can admire Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, The Church of St. Agostino where is conserved the Michelangelo famous painting “The Pilgrim’s Virgin”, The Church of San Luigi dei Francesi where we can admire the

other famous Caravaggio Paint “The Conversion of St. Matthew”. We will end with Fontana di Trevi and the Spanish Steps. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 6: Rome

Breakfast in hotel. We departure to Orvieto where in the cathedral is conserved the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena. After the visit, we will celebrate the Holy Mass in one chapel of the Cathedral. Time for lunch and departure to Perugia.

Visit of the San Lorenzo Cathedral. According to a popular tradition, Joseph gave Our Lady a chalcedony ring, known today as the “Holy Ring.” The wedding ring that Joseph gave to Mary is kept in a chapel in Cathedral of San Lorenzo. You are welcomed by the Virgin Mary, Mater Gratiae, the “praying” Virgin with her hands turned towards the faithful, with a gesture of blessing, protection and welcome. Departure to Assisi. Dinner and overnight atour hotel.

DAY 7: Assisi / Greccio

Breakfast in hotel. We have a guided visit of the city. Visit the Church of St. Clare which houses her incorrupt body. One of the chapels contains the crucifix that bowed its head and ordered St. Francis to”repair Gods Church”. Tour the Basilica of St. Francis built in 1228 to house the Relics of the saint. The “upper “Basilica houses beautiful frescoes of Giotto. It is from these frescoes that we will know and understand the life and the spirit of St. Francis. We will have our daily Holy Mass there. Time for lunch. Departure to Greccio. Visit of the The Sanctuary of Greccio, set in the bare rock, amazes with its features. The original nucleus of the Sanctuary is the Chapel of the Nativity Scene where - according to tradition - Saint Francis on Christmas night 1223 represented the birth of Jesus for the first time. From here the tradition of the nativity scene was born. Visit of the Church of Santa Maria del Giglio and return to Assisi. Dinner and overnight in our hotel.

DAY 8: Assisi / Loretto

Breakfast in hotel. We visit of the Church of St. Mary the Major and the “Sanctuary of Dispossession” where is hosted the incorrupt body of the Blessed Carlo Acutis. Visit of St. Mary of the Angels Basilica. This Basilica is where St. Francis spent most of life. During this visit, your group will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful Rose Garden

where St. Francis and other friars lived, as well as the cave where the Saint retired to pray. Holy Mass. In the afternoon, we departure to Loreto. Visit of the Basilica. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 9: Loreto / Lanciano / San Giovanni Rotondo.

Special Holy Mass in the Holy House at 07:30 in the morning if availble, and Breakfast in hotel. Departure to San Giovanni Rotondo. During the transfer, we will stop in Lanciano. Lanciano is famous for the Miracle of Lanciano which dates back to the eighth century. A monk who had doubts about the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, found when he said the words of consecration at Mass, that the bread and wine changed into flesh and blood. It has been certified by the Catholic Church as a Eucharistic Miracle. At the end of the celebration we will continue our way to San Giovanni Rotondo. Accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 10: San Giovanni Rotondo

Breakfast in hotel and visit of St Pio Sanctuary designed by the famous Architect Renzo Piano. Celebrate Holy Mass . Time to visit the place where San Pio lived, and time for personal prayer. Time for lunch and in the afternoon transfer to the nearby Monte Sant’Angelo. Monte Sant’Angelo as a town appeared only in the eleventh century. Between 1081 and 1103, Monte Sant’Angelo was the capital of a large Norman dominion under the control of Count Henry, who was a vassal of the Byzantine Empire. The grotto which houses the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel where according to legend, St. Michael appeared in 490, 492 and 493, has been the site of many famous pilgrimages, which started from Mont Saint-Michel. St. Pope John Paul II visited the sanctuary in 1987. The sanctuary is one of the UNESCO world Heritage sites. Return to San Giovanni Rotondo. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 11: San Giovanni Rotondo / Rome

Breakfast in hotel and departure to Rome. During our way to Rome we will stop in Pietrelcina to visit the hometown of San Pio. Visit of the Church of the Holy Family. The place where the Church of the Holy Family stands was indicated by Padre Pio, subsequently a request was made to the American lady Mary Pyle to have a contribution for the construction of the convent and the Church that should be dedicated to the Holy Family as per request of San Pio. During the construction of the Church, the workers had some problems about water needs. They went to San Pio that told them where to excavate in order to find the water they need. They did it and they found the water needed for the building construction and also for the people of Pietrelcina. Celebrate Holy Mass and Time for Lunch. Continue to our trip to Rome. Accommodation in our hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 12: Rome / USA

After our breakfast, we transfer to the airport to fly back at home. We depart with the incredible memories of an unforgettable pilgrimage.