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Chaplain
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a Special Year of St Francis to mark the 800th anniversary of the saints death. This Franciscan Jubilee Year, opened by a decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on January 10, runs through January 2027 and offers the faithful the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence.
During our pilgrimage to Assisi, pilgrims will visit the Basilica of St Francis, the most important place of devotion associated with St Francis. Under the usual conditions – confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the pope – the plenary indulgence may be obtained. This indulgence may also be gained by making a pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or any church dedicated to St Francis anywhere in the world.
Our pilgrimage begins as we board our plane for an overnight flight to Rome.
Upon arrival into Rome, we’ll drive to Assisi, home of the Franciscan Order. Following hotel check-in, Mass will be celebrated at the Hermitage of Carceri, located in the hills of Assisi. Dinner. Overnight Assisi.
Following breakfast, we will visit the quaint hilltop birthplace of St. Francis that still retains the atmosphere of the early 1200s, when St. Francis began his ministry. We will proceed to the Basilica of St. Francis where we will celebrate Mass and pray by his tomb. Next, we will visit Chiesa Nuova, built in 1615 on the site of the birthplace of St. Francis. Then, we will visit the crucifix which spoke to St. Francis, saying, “Francis, rebuild my Church,” and which is now displayed at the Church of St. Clare. St. Clare was the foundress of the Order of Poor Clares. Here, we will venerate her tomb and pray for her intercession. In the year 1240, a band of Saracen soldiers were attacking Assisi and had reached the cloistered convent of a now sickly St. Clare. In fear that the soldiers would harm her sisters, she prayed in front of the Blessed Sacrament for protection. Tradition tells us that Our Lord assured her His protections and when she held the monstrance in front of the soldiers, they fled! This afternoon, at St. Mary Major in the Shrine of the Renunciation, we will visit the glass sarcophagus of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the “Millennial Saint” who created a website documenting all the world’s Eucharistic Miracle sites, including the one of St. Clare just mentioned. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
We will depart Assisi this morning enroute to San Giovanni Rotondo. Along the way, we will visit the town of Loreto and celebrate Mass at the Basilica Della Santa Casa, housing The Holy House of Loreto. Tradition tells us that to avoid destruction by Muslim invaders to the Holy Land, on May 10, 1291, seven angels carried the house of the Holy Family from Nazareth to Dalmatia (modern day Trsat, Croatia) and then Italy, where it eventually rested in Loreto. Continuing our journey, we will visit Lanciano, the site of a Eucharistic Miracle from the eighth century. Finally, we will head to San Giovanni Rotondo. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Today is dedicated to the town where St. Padre Pio lived for most of his life. We will visit the church of Santa Maria Della Grazie and the Shrine of St. Padre Pio, where the tomb of St. Padre Pio is located, and celebrate Mass. In the afternoon, we will visit the Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo, a church built over a cave where St. Michael the Archangel appeared in the fifth century. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Today we set off for the Amalfi Coast, first stop Positano. Positano is known for its stunning, colorful buildings cascading down a steep cliffside overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. We will visit St. Andrew’s relics and the tomb of St. Philomena. Next, we arrive in the town of Sorrento in time for dinner. This town offers stunning panoramic views of the bay of Naples, where you will marvel at the picturesque narrow streets, parks, and villas. Dinner. Overnight Sorrento.
This morning we board a hydrofoil to visit the island of Capri, where you will have the opportunity to visit the Blue Grotto (on your own). We will take a tour of Mount Solaro, Villa San Michele, and the Church of San Michele, followed by leisure time. Dinner. Overnight Sorrento.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a sightseeing tour of Pompeii. Explore the well-preserved ruins of this ancient Roman city, where we’ll learn about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and its historical significance. Overnight Sorrento.
Rome All roads lead to Rome. Our first stop along the way is Montecassino, a beautiful town founded by Saint Benedict in 529 . Next, on to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Graces & St. Maria Goretti in Nettuno. Arrive in Rome in time for dinner. Overnight Rome
In the morning, we head to St. Peter’s Square for the Papal general audience with Pope Leo XIV (subject to his schedule). Afterward, we will have a private Mass nearby. Following a brief lunch, we tour the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica, marveling at the incredible art and history. Today we will be able to walk through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
After 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. Along the way we’ll stop for prayer at the Basilica of Saint Clement. Passing by the Roman Forum, we will witness the ruins of ancient government buildings. We’ll finish the day visiting the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, a resting place of several popes from the 2nd to 4th centuries. Optional walking tour of the Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps this evening. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
With a renewed sense of pilgrimage, and an invigorated love of our Catholic faith, we transfer to the Rome Fiumicino Airport and board our return flight home.
