Italy Pilgrimage for the 2025 Jubilee of Justice

Today we embark on our pilgrimage with an overnight flight(s) from your home city to Rome (FCO). Enjoy meals and refreshments served on the plane. (Airfare not included.)

Upon arrival into Rome, we will meet with our tour manager and take a panoramic bus tour of the city before we head to our hotel for check-in. Welcome dinner and overnight in Rome.

We start the day with breakfast. Today we’ll participate in the “Jubilee of Justice” events. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Today we will visit and 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. Before we close the day, we will travel to the Pontifical North American College for a private tour, offering stunning views of Rome. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Following breakfast, we will embark on a historic tour of Ancient Rome. We will stroll along cobblestone streets, lined with majestic stone pines, and visit the Colosseum, a grand amphitheater of the ancient world. Passing by the Roman Forum, we will witness the ruins of ancient government buildings. Our next stop is the San Gregorio Magno al Cielo Convent, the Roman motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity, where we can connect with the spirit of Saint Teresa of Calcutta. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

After breakfast, we depart on a day trip to Assisi. Upon arrival we will visit the quaint hilltop birthplace of St. Francis that still retains something of the atmosphere of the early 1200s, when St. Francis began his ministry. We begin with Mass at Chiesa Nuova, built in 1615 on the site of the birthplace of St. Francis. Next, we will proceed to the Church of St. Clare to see the Saint’s body and pray for her intercession. St. Clare was the foundress of the Order of Poor Clare’s. Then on to the basilica of St. Francis where we will pray over his tomb. Finally, we will transfer back to Rome. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

In the morning, we will 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 nearby. After lunch on your own, we’ll embark on a tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Overnight in Rome.

Those ending their pilgrimage in Rome will board the bus and transfer to Rome (FCO) for their return flight(s) home.Our pilgrimage continues today with an exciting “optional extension” to Greece and Turkey, “The Birthplace of Law”.

Upon arrival in Thessaloniki, we’ll meet our Canterbury tour manager at our hotel for check-in. Overnight Thessaloniki

After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for our guided tour beginning with Kavala, which is biblical Neapolis, where Paul once landed with Timothy and Silas. We then continue to Philippi, which holds great biblical significance. Explore the ruins of the ancient city where it is believed Lydia’s heart was opened by God to the Gospel (Acts 16:14), the Roman Forum, the theater, the basilica, and the prison where Paul and Silas were held captive. We will also visit Amphipolis, the famous starting point of Alexander the Great’s mission to “conquer the world.” Overnight Thessaloniki

Today, we will walk in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul at Thessaloniki (biblical Thessalonica), seeing sites like the Roman market, the old city walls, the theater, and the Agora where he preached. We will also see the Church of St. George, the Galerius Arch, the Holy Church of Hagia Sophia, and the Church of St. Demetrios before continuing to Veria (biblical Berea), to which Paul and Silas went after they caused an uproar in Thessalonica (Acts 17). We will see the location where Paul preached to the Bereans. We then drive to Kalambaka, check into our hotel, and have dinner. Overnight Kalambaka

Today we will visit monasteries at Meteora, perched high on rocky cliffs, and marvel at the architectural wonders that are over 700 years old. We will visit a monastery church and museum containing priceless historic and religious treasures. We then drive to the capital city of Athens. Overnight Athens

After breakfast we will tour Athens, including some of the city’s most iconic sites like the Parthenon, and the Areopagus where Paul famously preached in Acts 17. Then, we head to Corinth, where Paul labored for the Gospel and met Aquila and Priscila. It was to the Church in Corinth that Paul wrote the Epistles of 1 and 2 Corinthians. We will see the Roman Agora and the Bema, where Paul stood trial before Gallio. We will return to Athens for dinner and rest. Overnight Athens

Inspired by the Holy Spirit and the faith of St. Paul, we will motorcoach transfer to the airport in Athens for our return flight back home.