Pilgrimage to Italy – Rome, Assisi & San Giovanni

Depart London Gatwick for Rome. Upon arrival transfer to our hotel and dinner here.

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour of Old Rome visiting the Colosseum (view from outside), the Roman Forum and St Peters in Chains basilica to view Michelangelo’s famous Statue of Moses. Also visit the basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls (Mass here), the second largest church in Rome, which houses the tomb of St Paul kept under the main altar, and the basilica of St Mary Majors which houses the true relics of the manger from Bethlehem in which Jesus was laid following his birth. Return to the hotel for evening dinner.

Early breakfast in the hotel and leave early to attend the general Papal Audience in the Vatican (assuming the Holy Father is in residence as scheduled). Afterwards Fr. Cyriacus has arranged a meeting with Cardinal Arinze at the Cardinal quarters in St. Peter’s Square, which promises to be a special experience for the group. We then have lunch and return to the Vatican for a guided visit of St Peter’s Basilica, the largest of all Catholic Churches. Explore this wonderful basilica and the grounds. Visit the Crypt and view the tombs of St Peter and recent Popes. Return to our hotel and Mass here, followed by dinner.

Early Mass at the chapel at the hotel followed by breakfast. We check out and then visit the Vatican Museum and see the magnificent Sistine Chapel (Michelangelo’s masterpiece ceiling and the Last Judgement), and many other priceless works of art. We leave Rome by coach and we expect to arrive at our hotel in time for dinner. Overnight in Hotel Deco for 1 night. In the morning we travel to Assisi.

Breakfast in the hotel, followed by a short coach journey (approximately 20 mins) to Assisi, a historical city pervaded by the spirit of St. Francis and which is located half way up the slopes of Mt. Subasio. We walk to the Basilica of St Francis and tour here visiting the tomb of St Francis, chapels of St Martin and St Magdalin and view many of the frescoes associated with the life of St Francis. There are in all 32 frescoes to be seen here. Mass at the basilica. Free time will be allocated for private prayer and meditation followed by lunch at one of the nearby restaurants. We then walk to the Basilica of St Claire and we see the Saints incorrupt body which is kept underneath the altar. We visit the museum to see many of her relics and on to the chapel where the precious Crucifix spoke to St Francis. Check in and dinner at the hotel in Assisi.

After breakfast drive to the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli. The "Porziuncola", the very ancient chapel, venerated for an apparition of angels within it, was originally the property of the Benedictines of Subasio. It was located on a piece of land known as the Portiuncula; this name became attached to the chapel. After a long period of abandonment, it was restored by St. Francis. Here he was given a clear understanding of his vocation. He founded here the Order of Friars Minor (1209), "establishing here his home". Afterwards we travel by coach to Gubbio and visit St Ubaldo Basilica, the patron Saint of Gubbio, where his miraculously preserved body is located. St Francis lived here around 1220 where he met the wolf that he tamed. We hope to celebrate Mass here. Return to the hotel for evening dinner.

After breakfast we leave Assisi and head to San Giovanni Rotondo (4-5 hours drive). We stop for lunch on the way. Mass will be arranged. Check in to our hotel and dinner here.

We visit The Shrine of St Pio, the second most visited Shrine in the world (second only to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico). Here we visit Santa Maria Delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) where St Pio’s Tomb is kept and on view in the crypt; his Cell; his Confessional from where he performed so many of his miracles, and the choir loft where he received his Sacred Stigmata in 1918 - he suffered from these wounds until his death on September 23, 1968. His well preserved personal belongings can be viewed here including thousands of letters he received for just one year displayed on the wall. Daily Mass will be arranged at the chapel in the new basilica followed by stations of the Cross. Free time to explore the shrines and then return to the hotel and evening dinner here.

After breakfast, we will make a half day visit to the Sanctuary of St Michael the Archangel and visit St Michael’s Cave where the Angels appeared three times in the years 490, 492 and 1656. Mass here followed by lunch and free time. Return to our hotel and evening dinner here.

Early Mass followed by breakfast at the hotel. We check out and then leave for Bari Airport. Depart on our direct flight back to London Gatwick.