Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s) to Rome.

Today you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Rome, also known as, ""The Eternal City"." Upon arrival at Rome airport, collect your luggage in the baggage claim area, and continue to the Arrival's Hall, where you will be greeted by a tour escort and/or driver. You will make your way to the bus and transfer to your hotel. Following check-in, you will have free time to unpack and relax, or explore Rome on your own. Your tour escort may suggest places to visit. Later in the afternoon, your group will meet in the hotel lobby for a "Meet and Greet" with your fellow pilgrims and depart for Mass. Following Mass, you will attend a welcome dinner. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to walk to St. Peter's Square as a group, for the Rosary (optional).

We begin with the Papal Audience in St. Peter's Square! The Audience is celebrated each Wednesday by His Holiness, Pope Francis (pending the papal schedule). Following the Audience, you will enjoy visit of one of the largest Christendom Church, St. Peter's Basilica. This Basilica was built on the site where St. Peter, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome, was martyred. Also, it was Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who was the first Pontiff to visit the necropolis since extensive archaeological excavations were conducted at the ancient site decades ago. It is here that you will view Michelangelo's Pieta. This stunning marble sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary holding Christ after His crucifixion, death, and removal off the cross before being placed in the tomb. Continue to proceed to the Vatican Museums. At the world-renowned museum, you will see the most impressive of edifices, galleries, and awe-inspiring relics. Additionally, you will observe the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel, and Michelangelo's Masterpiece, the restored mural of the Last Judgment. The final stop on your Vatican tour is at the tomb of Saint John Paul II. After Free time for lunch we will walk through the sprawling mass of ruins that is known as the Roman Forum. Once a center of Ancient Rome made up of Temples, Courts, Markets, and other government buildings. Then continue on your short journey down the Appian Way, the earliest road of Ancient Rome. This road leads to the Domino Quo Vadis Chapel, the Baths of Caracalla, the Arch of Drusus, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, and the catacombs of St. Callixtus. The day concludes with a visit to the Basilica of St. Paul, outside the walls. Originally founded by Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century, this Basilica is the burial places of Saint Paul the Apostle. Next, make your way to a local restaurant for dinner. Following dinner, feel free to explore the streets of Rome, or return to the hotel for an overnight.

This morning your first day of Rome sightseeing begin! We will visit the Trevi Fountain and continue on to the Pantheon where the famous artist Raphael is buried, as well as the first king of Italy. There will be some time to grab a snack before we continue on to the Basilica of Saint Maria Sopra Minerva, Rome's only gothic Church that was designed by Michelangelo. From there, tucked away in a piazza, is the Basilica of Saint Andrea Della Valle which is made up of a frescoed dome and the handiwork of Carlo Maderno. It is the second largest dome in Rome next to St. Peter's Basilica. From there, we walk over to the Church of Gesu. Conceived in 1551 by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, and making this the first Jesuit Church in Rome. We then visit the oldest of the four major Basilicas in Rome, and the home to the relics of Peter and Paul, the Basilica of St. John the Lateran. This Basilica is where Pope Francis was installed as Bishop of Rome. Next, you will cross the street to visit the Holy Stairs. These Holy Stairs are the very steps leading up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem on which Jesus stepped on his way to trial during his Passion. The Stairs were brought to Rome by Saint Helena in the fourth century. Ascending these stairs on your knees, in memory of Christ's agonizing Passion. We conclude your day, with a Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Church dedicated to Our Blessed Mother, St. Mary Major reigns as the only Basilica that has kept its original structure and is an authentic jewel in the crown of Roman Churches. This Basilica contains a relic from the Manger of the Infant Jesus. We will close the day with a visit to the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles, also known as Santi Apostoli. It is dedicated to St. James and St. Philip, whose remains are kept there, and later to all Apostles. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight.

Start the day with breakfast, you will head north to the Basilica of St. Clement, dedicated to Pope Clement I. Remarkable in its archaeologically, it records the history of Rome from the beginning of Christianity up until the Middle Ages. From there we continue to the Colosseum which has been a symbol of Rome since 80 A.D. Today, it's a top monument in Italy. Over 50,000 spectators once gathered in the amphitheater's tiered seats to watch the gladiator games. Over time, much of the original marble facade was pilfered to build the likes of St. Peter's Basilica. Continue on to Circus Maximus, the largest stadium in the Roman empire. A massive arena where chariot races, games, and religious ceremonies took place. A major restoration took place in 2016 yielded a spruced-up archaeological site comprising of arched walkways, shops, and newly excavated cobbled stone roads. Return to the Hotel in time for dinner and overnight

After early breakfast group will leave Rome for Lanciano for private Mass at the Church of St. Longinus- the site of a Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in the eighth century. At the time of the miracle, there was a Basilian monk, who struggled with the belief in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. During the time of Mass, the monk, with doubt in his voice, said the words of consecration and the bread and wine transformed into physical flesh and blood. Leave for Marian shrine of Loreto to visit the Holy House of Nazareth and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto. Tradition holds that this is the house in which Mary first prayed the Magnificat, in which Jesus grew to manhood, and in which the Holy Family lived, before it was transported several times by angels, to its current location. End the day in Assisi, hometown of St. Francis and St. Clare, with dinner and overnight at your hotel.

As you visit the birthplace of St. Francis, you will become captivated as the atmosphere has not changed since St. Francis began his ministry, in the early 13th-century. You will start your tour at the St. Francis Basilica, visit his tomb of St. Francis, and have the opportunity to view a series of frescoes depicting his life, along with a few of the saint's possessions. Followed by a visit to the Santuario Della Spogliazione where Blessed Carlo Acutis' tomb is placed. Carlo is the first millennial to be declared Blessed who loved the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. From there, you will continue on a walking tour through this picturesque town, including the birthplace of St. Francis, and end with a tour of the Church that honors St. Clare, the foundress of the Poor Clare Sisters. This Saint followed the teachings of St. Francis very closely by also living a life of poverty and humility. Enjoy some free time on your own - you may take this time for additional prayer, shop in the many gift shops or enjoy a nice lunch. After lunch, you will board the bus, which will take you outside of the walls of Assisi, to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. This is where St. Francis spent most of life. This Basilica is made up of two structures, both of which you will visit. The first structure, is the "Porziuncola", which is where St. Francis founded his order of the Friar Minor (Franciscans). The second, is the "Capella del Transito", which is the place of St. Francis' death. During your time here, you will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful Rose Garden where St. Francis and other friars lived, as well as the cave where the Saint retired to pray. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, your group will leave Assisi by motor coach and transfer to Rome Airport for your return flights home.