Our pilgrimage begins today as we depart on an overnight flight(s) to Italy with meals and refreshments served onboard.

Once we land in northern Italy, we will be met at the airport by our tour manager and driver. We will proceed into the city center of Milan, where we will walk to visit the Duomo di Milano, a magnificent Gothic cathedral that took several centuries to complete. On the way, we will pass Sforza Castle, a famous fortification built in the 15th century. After our visit, we will proceed to Turin where we will check into our hotel before we have dinner together. Overnight in Turin.

After breakfast, we make our way to the Turin Cathedral, home to the revered Shroud of Turin, believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus, and the burial place of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, soon to be canonized as a saint. We visit the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians at Valdocco, an important site for Salesians as it was commissioned by Saint Don Bosco in honor of Our Lady. He and other saints are buried here, including Saint Dominic Savio, the young boy who devoted his life to prayer and penance. Overnight in Turin.

This morning, we will travel back to Milan and fly to Bari on the southeast coast of Italy and make our way to San Giovanni Rotondo, the town where St. Padre Pio, the Capuchin priest who bore our Lord’s stigmata for many years, spent much of his life. We’ll visit the church of Santa Maria Della Grazie, home of the tomb of St. Padre Pio, and offer Mass. Time permitting, we will make an afternoon visit to the Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo. Overnight San Giovanni Rotondo.

Today we depart for Assisi, home of the Franciscan Order. On the way, we will visit Lanciano, the site of the Eucharistic Miracle of the eighth century. At the Church of San Francesco, we will venerate the relics of this miracle, which occurred when a monastic priest in the year 750 doubted the True Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. While celebrating Mass, the host turned into Flesh and the wine turned into Blood at the words of consecration. Next, we will visit the town of Loreto and stop at the Basilica Della Santa Casa, which is the where The Holy House of Loreto is found, to celebrate Mass. We will reach Assisi by evening. Overnight in Assisi.

All day Assisi beginning with a visit to the Basilica of Saint Clare, the lower crypt, where we will pray before her incorrupt body. We will also have a chance to pray before the San Damiano cross, the very cross that Christ spoke to St. Francis through, asking Francis to rebuild his Church. We then visit the Basilica of Saint Francis, where we’ll pray before the tomb of St. Francis. We’ll also visit the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis, soon to be canonized as a saint. Overnight in Assisi.

Today we will take a day trip to Florence, capital of the Tuscany region of Italy. Mass will be celebrated today at the Basilica of Santa Croce, where Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli are all buried. We see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery of St. John. We will also visit the Galleria dell’Accademia, a fine art museum displaying the famous sculpture of the David and other Michelangelo sculptures. This afternoon we will have the opportunity to experience a wine tasting in Tuscany before returning to Assisi. Overnight in Assisi.

We begin today in the lower village of Assisi to visit St. Mary of the Angels, where St. Francis spent most of his life. We’ll visit the Chapel Portiuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the saint retired for prayer. In the afternoon we will embark on a journey to the Eternal City and have some leisure time before dinner. Overnight in Rome.

Today we will have an opportunity to walk through the Holy Doors at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, and the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. The Holy Doors of Rome’s four major papal basilicas are opened only during times of jubilee, symbolize passing into the presence of God by way of our Lord Jesus, who called himself the “gate.” Those who walk through them are granted a plenary indulgence for the removal of temporal punishment for their sins. At the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, we also will have the opportunity to climb the Lateran Steps and attend Mass. Overnight in Rome.

This morning, we head to Saint Peter’s Square for the Papal general audience with Pope Francis (subject to the Pope’s schedule). Afterward, we will have a private Mass. After lunch on your own, we’ll embark on a tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. At St. Peter’s Basilica we walk through the final Holy Door. This door is one of three entrances into St. Peter’s Basilica, which along with the other Holy Doors usually remains closed, but when opened, imparts an indulgence to those who walk through it. Overnight in Rome.

Following breakfast, we will travel back in time with a tour of Ancient Rome. Making our way along centuries-old cobblestone streets lined with Rome’s stately stone pines, we will arrive at Ancient Rome’s monumental three-tiered amphitheater, the Colosseum, once used for gladiatorial games. We will also pass by the Roman Forum, open grounds that are now surrounded by the ruins of ancient government buildings at the center of Ancient Rome. This afternoon we will discover the ancient Catacombs of Rome, where early Christians were buried, and visit the church of Santa Maria in Palmis, otherwise known as the Church of Domine Quo Vadis on the Appian Way, built on the site where St. Peter met the risen Christ while Peter was fleeing persecution in Rome. Tonight, we gather for our Farewell Dinner. Overnight in Rome.

With a revitalized love of our Catholic faith, we will board our plane for our return flight home.