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Saint Peter's Basilica lit in the evening, seen from the Via della Conciliazione

Rome and the Papal Audience

St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls and the catacombs

Five days in Rome, with a Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square, the four papal basilicas, the Holy Stairs, and Mass at the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul.

Departures

Current Tours to Italy

Upcoming departures to Italy. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
Itinerary · EU_IT-12D-03

The Rome Itinerary

Three nights in Rome with a Papal Audience, the four papal basilicas, the Holy Stairs and the catacombs. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Day 1 – 5

Rome and the Vatican

Saint Peter's Square and Bernini's colonnade in Vatican City
Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City
Day 1

Depart the United States

We depart the United States on our overnight flight to Rome. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
Day 2

Arrival in Rome

Our guide meets us in the Eternal City and accompanies us to our hotel.Welcome dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 3

The Papal Audience, St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major

We begin at the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square, held by the Holy Father each Wednesday, then take free time around the Piazza Navona. In the afternoon we visit the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the oldest of the four papal basilicas and the cathedral where the Pope is installed as Bishop of Rome, above whose high altar the relics of the heads of Sts. Peter and Paul are venerated, and across the street we climb the Holy Stairs on our knees, the marble steps that tradition holds St. Helena brought from Jerusalem and that Our Lord climbed before Pilate.Mass is celebrated at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 4

St. Peter’s, the Vatican Museums and the Appian Way

We tour St. Peter’s Basilica, raised over the place of the apostle’s martyrdom, where Michelangelo’s Pietà stands and Pope Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II are buried, and continue to the Vatican Museums, the Gallery of Tapestries, the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. In the afternoon we travel the Appian Way, one of the earliest roads out of Rome, to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, built over the apostle’s tomb, and to the Roman catacombs.Mass is celebrated at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 5

Departure

With hearts renewed by the intercession of the apostles Peter and Paul, we transfer to Fiumicino Airport for our return flight home.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
Saint Peter's Square and Bernini's colonnade in Vatican City
RomeWhere Peter and Paul are buried, and the Holy Father speaks each Wednesday.
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
Saint Peter's Basilica lit in the evening, seen from the Via della Conciliazione
Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
Frescoed vaulting and detail inside the Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
The Roman Forum and the Colosseum seen across the ruins
The Roman Forum, Rome
The Colosseum in Rome
The Colosseum, Rome
Rooftops and domes across the centre of Rome
Rooftops and domes, Rome
The Basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle in Rome
Sant’Andrea della Valle, Rome

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to Rome?

April through early June and mid-September through October are the most comfortable months, with warm days, mild evenings and thinner crowds at the shrines. July and August are hot, and Rome empties of Italians and fills with visitors. Winter is quiet and better priced, and the basilicas in the cold are a serious pilgrimage.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for Italy?

US citizens need a valid passport and do not currently require a visa for Italy on a trip of this length. Italy is in the Schengen area, which allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. We recommend at least six months of validity beyond your return date and a couple of blank pages. Europe’s ETIAS travel authorisation is expected to begin during this period, and we will tell your group what is needed well before departure.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Italy?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseA choir pilgrimageChristmas markets and AdventWorld Youth Day Seoul 2027Somewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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