Italy: Journey Toward The Face of Christ 2025
May 24 – June 3, 2025
Italy
DATES
May 24 – June 3, 2025
PLACE
Italy
“Rely on the mighty Lord; constantly seek his face”…1 Chronicles 16:11
Stay inside Vatican City during the Jubilee Year of Hope.
- Visit the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the young Italian teenager known for cataloging the world’s Eucharistic miracles, just weeks after his canonization.
- Venerate the column on which St. Paul was beheaded, made available through a close relationship with the gatekeeper; microscopic analysis has even confirmed traces of blood on the column.
- Access the Church of St. Pudenziana, built over the home of St. Pudens, who is mentioned in the Bible by St. Paul. This home, where St. Peter lived for seven years and served as the first papal residence, includes first-century structures rarely open to the public, thanks to a trusted gatekeeper.
- Meet Father Cassian Folsom, prior emeritus and modern re-founder of the Benedictine community in Norcia, St. Benedict’s birthplace.
Highlights of the Pilgrimage
Visit Italy’s most sacred and spiritual sites and experience the profound renewal they offer. Here are some of the places we will pilgrimage to:
Assisi
Visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, the Basilica of St. Francis, and the Tomb of St. Carlo Acutis
Florence
Discover the Baptistry, Church of the Holy Cross, and the iconic Duomo (Cathedral) of Florence
Norcia
Visit the Benedictine Monastery and their newly built church
Rome
Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran. Explore the first “Vatican,” Marian apparition sites in Rome, a Eucharistic miracle, the Scavi beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, and the revered icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Attend a Papal Audience with Pope Leo
Loreto
Experience the Basilica of the Holy House of Loreto, a revered Marian site
Pilgrimage Overview
Day 1: Assisi
- Arrive in Rome and travel to Assisi for a welcome Mass and dinner.
Day 2: Assisi
- Attend Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis
- Tour the Basilica with a Franciscan Friar
- Visit San Rufino, where both St. Francis and St. Clare were baptized.
- Possible meeting with the Bishop of Assisi at his residence
- Venerate tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis
Day 3: Florence
- Day trip to Florence
- Visit many places on our walking tour of Florence: the Baptistery with its elaborate bronze doors by Ghiberti; the Church of the Holy Cross where many nobles are buried, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli and Santa Maria del Fiore, the famous 13th century cathedral (Duomo) of Florence
- Enjoy a guided walking tour with views of Florence the Piazza Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Ponte Vecchio, and Republic Square.
- Lunch in the city center and free time to shop and explore the city on your own
Day 4: Assisi
- Attend Mass at Our Lady of the Angels, the church built over the Porziuncola, which was built by St. Francis
- Visit the Sanctuary of San Damiano
- Partake in a walking tour through the historic center of Assisi
Day 5: Norcia and Loreto
- After breakfast, depart for Norcia
- Visit the Benedictine monks in their monastery
- Lunch in a farm-to-table restaurant overlooking the town of Norcia from the hillside of the Sibilini mountains
- Travel to Loreto and visit the Holy House of Loreto where our friend, Donatella, a native of Loreto, will share the importance of this sacred site.
Day 6: Lanciano and Monte Sant’ Angelo
- Venerate the Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano
- Visit the Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo (Saint Michael the Archangel)
- Overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo, home of St. Padre Pio
Day 7: San Giovanni Rotondo, Manopello and Rome
- In San Giovanni Rotondo visit the Church of St. Mary of Grace which houses the mortal remains of St. Padre Pio
- In Manoppello, venerate the Holy Face of Manoppello
- Overnight in Vatican City, near the tomb of St. Peter.
Day 8: Rome
- Attend Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica
- Tour of the catacombs of St Callistus
- Visit St. Paul’s-Outside-the-Walls and Tre Fontane where Paul was martyr
- Visit the Grotto of Our Lady of Revelations, a marian apparition where the miracle of the sun occurred
Day 9: Rome
- Attend Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and pray the Angelus with Pope Francis
- Walk with Dr. Robert Moynihan through Rome as he explains the centuries of history as you walk pass the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona
- Visit the church where Mary appeared in the 1800s
Day 10: Rome
- Attend Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica
- Travel to the Churches of Sts. Prassedes and Pudentiana
- Visit two of the patriarchal basilicas in Rome: St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran.
- Visit the Holy Stairs near the Basilica of St. John Lateran
- Venerate sacred relics of Jesus’ Passion at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (English: Holy Cross in Jerusalem)
Day 11: Depart
Tour Details & Guidelines
Air Travel:
Arrival Information:
- Airport: Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
- Date: Saturday, May 24, 2025 (Day 1 of the pilgrimage)
- Flight Arrival Time: Before 10:00 AM (Local Time)
- Transfer: Group transfer from the airport to Assisi
It is highly recommended to arrive on Friday, May 23, 2024, one day early to allow for rest and greater flexibility in flight options. If you choose to arrive early, please contact our office for assistance with booking the recommended early arrival hotel. On Day 1, the group transfer will pick up participants from this hotel along with the group pick-up at the airport.
Please note that if you arrive one day early, you are financially responsible for the transfer from the airport to the hotel. If you require assistance with this transfer, let us know, and we will be happy to help coordinate.
Departure Information:
- Airport: Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
- Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (Day 11 of the pilgrimage)
- Flight Departure Time: After 10:00 AM (Local Time)
- Transfer: The group transfer from Vatican City to the airport will depart at 7:00 a.m., coinciding with the opening of the Vatican gates. This schedule accommodates flights departing at 10:00 a.m. or later. If you choose to extend your stay in Rome, you must vacate your accommodations inside the Vatican by 10:00 a.m. While we will arrange your transportation, participants are responsible for covering the cost in this instance.
Recommended Travel Agency: For booking flights, we recommend using an experienced travel agency. They will handle your airline reservations and forward the details to our office, ensuring a seamless process. You will receive the contact information for Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages’ recommended seasoned travel agent in your Welcome Letter, which is sent immediately after you register for the pilgrimage.
If you would like to get an idea of the cost and availability of flights, we suggest checking Google Flights as a helpful and simple tool for initial research.