Assisi to the Apostles: Bones of Francis to the Tombs of Peter & Paul

March 15 – 22, 2026

Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages are unlike anything you’ve ever experienced — intimate, transformative, and deeply personal.

We carefully craft each day’s itinerary as a tapestry of prayer, spiritual depth, historical richness, and personal encounters, weaving together the lives of great saints, the people we meet along the way, and the unique stories each pilgrim brings from their own faith journey.

If you’re searching for more than just a trip — if you’re longing for something truly special — Join us for this incredible pilgrimage.

Come with us for a seven-day, once-in-a-lifetime journey to honor the bones of Saint Francis, which are being displayed for the first time in 800 years for pilgrims to venerate in his hometown of Assisi. Then continue with us to Vatican City, where we will stay at the Domus Santa Marta, the primary residence of the late Holy Father Pope Francis.

The pilgrimage begins in the beautiful city of Assisi, Italy. Assisi is the home of many ancient and modern saints, and it is also the birthplace of both the Franciscan order and their sister order, the Poor Clares. Here in Assisi, we will have the chance to venerate the tombs of all three of Assisi’s major saints: Saint Francis, Saint Clare, and Saint Carlo Acutis.

While in Assisi, we will visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, which was built around St. Francis’ Porziuncola, the little church that St. Francis rebuilt. Then we will encounter the saints. In the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, we will visit St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint. At the Basilica of St. Clare, we will have the opportunity to visit the tomb of St. Clare of Assisi and also take some time to pray at the San Damiano Cross, from which the crucified Christ spoke to St. Francis. At the Basilica of St. Francis, we will have a unique encounter with the great saint of Assisi as the bones of St. Francis are exposed for veneration for the first time.

We will then embark on our journey to Vatican City, stopping briefly in Foligno and Montefalco along the way. In Foligno, we will continue exploring the lives of saints by visiting St. Angela, a lay Franciscan mystic, wife, and mother. In Montefalco, we will enjoy a wine tasting in the region, which is famous for its Sagrantino wine.

Once we arrive in Vatican City, we will begin the Roman portion of our pilgrimage with a five-night stay at the Domus Santa Marta, located inside the walls of the Vatican and within walking distance of Saint Peter’s Basilica. This rare privilege allows us to live, pray, and move within the very heart of the Church.

Our days in Rome will center on the Apostles Peter and Paul, whose witness and martyrdom laid the foundations of the Church. We will attend Holy Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica and descend beneath the basilica on the Scavi Tour to stand before the bones of Saint Peter, the fisherman called by Christ to be the Rock. We will also visit the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, built over the tomb of the Apostle to the Gentiles, and several other churches in Rome.

While in Rome, we will walk in the footsteps of Saint Francis, visiting San Francesco a Ripa in Trastevere, where he stayed in 1209 during his visit to seek papal approval for his way of life. We will also participate in a Papal Audience with Pope Leo XIV, receive his blessing in Saint Peter’s Square, and take part in Rome’s celebrations for the Feast of Saint Joseph, Father’s Day in Italy.

Our pilgrimage will also include a visit to Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence, followed by time at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, a cherished Augustinian devotion and the destination of Pope Leo XIV’s first journey outside Rome after his election to the papacy.

Through prayer, sacred encounters, and time for reflection, this carefully curated itinerary will allow us to draw ever deeper into the living heart of the Church, uniting the witness of the saints with the faith of today.