Italy: Jubilee Year and St. Francis of Assisi 2025
September 27 – October 7, 2025
Italy
DATES
September 27 – October 7, 2025
PLACE
Italy
From the ancient rooms where St. Peter lived for seven years to the bishop’s residence in Assisi; from venerating the Eucharistic Miracle in Orvieto to celebrating the Feast of St. Francis in the town where he lived; from walking through the Holy Doors in Rome to tracing the footsteps of the saints—we will encounter some of the “living stones” of our Church. In doing so, we will embrace our role as pilgrims of Hope during this Jubilee year of 2025.
- Stay inside Vatican City during the Jubilee Year of Hope.
- Walk through the Holy Doors at the four papal basilicas of Rome.
- Venerate the column on which St. Paul was beheaded, made available through a close relationship with the gatekeeper; microscopic analysis has even confirmed traces of blood on the column.
- Access the Church of St. Pudenziana, built over the home of St. Pudens, who is mentioned in the Bible by St. Paul. This home, where St. Peter lived for seven years and served as the first papal residence, includes first-century structures rarely open to the public, thanks to a trusted gatekeeper.
- Celebrate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi in the town where he lived.
- Meet the bishop of Assisi, if available.
- Visit the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the young Italian teenager known for cataloging the world’s Eucharistic miracles.
Pilgrimage Overview
Day 1: Rome
- Arrive in Rome and travel to Vatican City for lunch and Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica
Day 2: Rome
- Attend Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and pray the Angelus with Pope Francis
- Visit Trastevere, one of Rome’s most enchanting neighborhoods
Day 3: Rome
- Attend Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica
- Tour of the catacombs of St Callistus
- Visit St. Paul’s-Outside-the-Walls and Tre Fontane where Paul was martyr
- Visit the Grotto of Our Lady of Revelations, a marian apparition where the miracle of the sun occurred.
Day 4: Rome
- Attend Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica
- Travel to the Churches of Sts. Prassedes and Pudentiana
- Visit two of the patriarchal basilicas in Rome: St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran.
- Visit the Holy Stairs near the Basilica of St. John Lateran
- Venerate sacred relics of Jesus’ Passion at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (English: Holy Cross in Jerusalem)
Day 5: Rome
- Attend the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square
- Walk with Dr. Robert Moynihan through Rome as he explains the centuries of history as you walk pass the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona
- Visit the church where Mary appeared in the 1800s
Day 6: Orvieto – Assisi
- Pay homage to one of the most significant Eucharistic miracles in the Catholic Church: the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena, which is preserved in the Cathedral of Orvieto.
- Tour Our Lady of the Angels, the church built over the Porziuncola, which was built by St. Francis
Day 7: Assisi
- Attend a private Mass at the Tomb of St. Francis and tour St. Francis Basilica
- Visit the tomb of the first millennial saint, St. Carlo Acutis (canonized in April 2025)
- Partake in a walking tour through the historic center of Assisi
- Visit the house of the Bishop of Assisi
Day 8: Assisi
- Enjoy St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day celebrations in Assisi
- Attend vespers at St. Clare Basilica
Day 9: Assisi
- Attend Mass at St. Francis Basilica
- Visit the Sanctuary of San Damian and the ancient Franciscan site, the Sanctuary of Eremo delle Carceri
Day 10: Florence
- Day trip to Florence
- Visit many places on our walking tour of Florence: the Baptistery with its elaborate bronze doors by Ghiberti; the Church of the Holy Cross where many nobles are buried, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli and Santa Maria del Fiore, the famous 13th century cathedral (Duomo) of Florence
- Enjoy a guided walking tour with views of Florence the Piazza Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Ponte Vecchio, and Republic Square.
- Eat Lunch in the city center and and enjoy free time to shop and explore the city on your own
Day 11: Depart
Tour Details & Guidelines
Air Travel:
This pilgrimage is offered as a Land Only Package. Participants are responsible for arranging and covering the cost of their own air travel for the Italy: Jubilee Year and St. Francis of Assisi 2025 Pilgrimage. After you book, you will receive the name and contact number of our recommended travel agent.
Arrival Information:
- Airport: Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
- Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025 (Day 1 of the pilgrimage)
- Flight Arrival Time: Before 10:00 AM (Local Time) This arrival time allows approximately one hour to pass through passport control and retrieve baggage before the group transfer.
- Transfer: Group transfer from the airport to Vatican City
It is strongly recommended that participants consider arriving on Friday, September 26, 2025, one day before Day 1, Saturday, September 27, 2025, of the pilgrimage. Arriving early allows time to rest and offers greater flexibility in selecting flight options.
For those who choose to arrive before Day 1, we have selected a designated early-arrival hotel. The cost of any extra nights will be the participant’s responsibility. On Day 1, the group transfer will pick up participants from this designated hotel along with the group pick-up at the airport.
Departure Information:
- Airport: Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
- Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 (Day 11 of the pilgrimage)
- Flight Departure Time: After 8:30 AM (Local Time)
- Transfer: The group transfer from Assisi to the airport will depart at 4:00 a.m. This schedule accommodates flights departing at 8:30 a.m. or later.
Only one (1) group transfer from the hotel to the airport is provided. To participate in this transfer, your flight must depart at or after 10:00 AM.
Recommended Travel Agency:
For booking flights, we recommend using an experienced travel agency. They will handle your airline reservations and forward the details to our office, ensuring a seamless process. You will receive the contact information for Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages’ recommended seasoned travel agent in your Welcome Letter, which is sent immediately after you register for the pilgrimage.
If you would like to get an idea of the cost and availability of flights, we suggest checking Google Flights as a helpful and simple tool for initial research.