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.

Highlights of our Pilgrimage:

• Assisi Highlights

  • Arrival in Italy with a personal welcome by Dr. Robert Moynihan, Editor of Inside the Vatican magazine, and Deborah Tomlinson, President of Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages

  • Staying just steps away from the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, built over the Porziuncola, birthplace of the Franciscan Order

  • Holy Mass in the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi

  • Veneration of the bones of Saint Francis, exposed for public veneration for the first time in 800 years, accompanied by a Franciscan friar

  • Visit to the tomb of Saint Carlo Acutis, Assisi’s newest saint

  • Prayer at the tomb of Saint Clare and before the San Damiano Cross

  • Holy Mass at Santa Maria degli Angeli

  • Encounter with the legacy of Saint Angela of Foligno, a great mystic and Franciscan tertiary

  • Wine tasting at a renowned Montefalco Sagrantino winery

• Rome Highlights

  • Holy Mass in the Domus Santa Marta

  • Papal Audience with Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square

  • Visit to San Francesco a Ripa in Trastevere, including the cell where Saint Francis stayed in 1209

  • Father’s Day in Italy on the Feast of Saint Joseph

  • Attendance at Holy Mass at the Altar of Saint Joseph in St. Peter’s Basilica

  • Veneration of the tomb of Pope Francis at Saint Mary Major

  • Visit to the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome

  • Participation in the Procession and Festival of Saint Joseph near the Vatican

  • Private tour of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence

  • Pilgrimage to Genazzano to venerate Our Lady of Good Counsel, a treasured Augustinian devotion

  • Holy Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica

  • Scavi Tour and prayer before the bones of Saint Peter

  • Visit to Saint Paul Outside the Walls and a possible meeting with Cardinal James Harvey

GROUP TRANSFERS

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 pilgrimage. After you book, you will receive the name and contact information of our recommended travel agent.

Arrival Information:

• Airport: Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

• Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026 (Day 1 of the pilgrimage)

• Flight Arrival Time: Before 10:30 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 Assisi

It is strongly recommended that participants consider arriving on Saturday, March 14, 2026, one day before Day 1, Sunday, March 15, 2026, 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 arranged two designated early-arrival options: one near the airport—the Rome Airport Hilton—and one in Rome, just a short walk from St. Peter’s Basilica—the Grand Hotel Olympic. Any extra nights are the responsibility of the participant. On Day 1, the group transfer will collect participants from both designated early-arrival hotels, in addition to the scheduled group pick-up at the airport.

Departure Information: 

• Airport: Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

• Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026 (Day 8 of the pilgrimage)

• Flight Departure Time: The earliest allowable flight departure time is 10:00 a.m. (local time). Participants who choose to attend the 7:00 a.m. Sunday Mass must schedule flights departing no earlier than 11:00 a.m., to allow sufficient time for transfer to the airport.
  

• Transfers: Two group transfers will be provided from Domus Santa Marta (Vatican City) to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO):

  7:00 a.m. transfer — for participants not attending the 7:00 a.m. Mass

  8:00 a.m. transfer — for participants attending the 7:00 a.m. Mass

Participation in these group transfers requires that your flight depart at or after 10:00 a.m., or after 11:00 a.m. if attending the 7:00 a.m. Mass.

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.

To get an idea of the cost and availability of flights, we recommend using Google Flights as a helpful and simple tool for initial research.

With more than 33 years of publishing Inside the Vatican magazine, we have colleagues and friends all over the world — and many of them have become part of our Pilgrimage family.

Designing an Inside the Vatican pilgrimage begins with a theme or a particular country; then we weave in encounters with real people who live and work there, as well as those with expert knowledge in its historical and spiritual perspectives. Each day includes the opportunity to attend Mass.

Our itineraries encompass both world-renowned and lesser-known destinations, and every detail is meticulously arranged to create a truly unique experience; we do not offer cookie-cutter pilgrimages. Our pilgrims also appreciate that we limit our pilgrimages to a maximum of 33 pilgrims. For custom pilgrimages, we may exceed this number only at the client’s request.

Crafting an Inside the Vatican pilgrimage is about knowing firsthand what makes a place extraordinary and knowing personally the people of the land—relationships formed through more than 33 years of publishing Inside the Vatican magazine and covering the universal Church. It is about understanding how best to experience each place and then refining the countless details, moments, and encounters—both planned and spontaneous. This thoughtful approach creates the kind of boutique pilgrimage experience that cannot be mass produced—an experience shaped with care, a flexible pace, and strong local connections. These are just a few of the reasons why many pilgrims return to join us again and again.

Contact Information:

Phone: +1.202.536.4555  Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET.

Email: Pilgrimages@InsideTheVatican.com. 

WhatsApp: +1.540.631.4392

Before booking your trip with us, please carefully read our Terms and Conditions.

Important Information: Due to the unique nature of accommodations within Vatican City, the following criteria must be met to complete your registration for this exclusive pilgrimage:

• Special Terms and Conditions: Participation requires following specific guidelines established for guests staying inside the Vatican. An addendum to the pilgrimage Terms and Conditions will be provided for your review and signature.

• Clergy Recommendation: A formal letter of recommendation from your priest or bishop is required. A sample template will be provided to help with this process.

• Group Participation: All pilgrims must stay with the group throughout the entire pilgrimage, remaining within the Vatican. Independent stays or staying behind in the Vatican without the group are not allowed, except in emergencies.

These steps help maintain the spiritual focus and unity of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Use EARLY when you register on or before December 31, 2025, to receive a $150.00 discount.  Contact us to inquire about any applicable discounts.

Beginning Our Pilgrim Path with Saint Francis

We will arrive at Rome’s airport, where you will be personally greeted by Dr. Robert Moynihan, Editor of Inside the Vatican magazine, and Deborah Tomlinson, President of Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages. From here, we board our private charter bus and travel north through the Umbrian countryside to Assisi.

Upon arrival, we will check into our hotel, located just across the plaza from the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, the great church built over the tiny Porziuncola—the sacred chapel which was restored by Saint Francis and became the birthplace of the Franciscan family.

After settling in we will depart for Sunday afternoon Mass.

Afterward we will gather for our welcome dinner which marks a peaceful beginning to our pilgrim path with Saint Francis.

Dinner included

A Historic Day of Encounter

We begin our morning with Holy Mass in the Basilica of Saint Francis. Following Mass, a Franciscan friar will personally escort us to venerate the bones of Saint Francis—an extraordinary moment in history, as this marks the first time his relics will be exposed for public veneration in the 800 years since his death.

After this profound encounter, we enjoy lunch overlooking the Basilica of Saint Francis. In the afternoon, we visit the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis, Assisi’s newest saint, whose youthful holiness continues to inspire pilgrims from around the world. If the Bishop of Assisi is available, our group will also have the opportunity to meet with him.

We then continue to the Basilica of Saint Clare to pray before her tomb and the San Damiano Cross, the very cross that spoke to Francis. Our day concludes with dinner in one of our favorite restaurants in Assisi.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Saint Angela of Foligno and Arrival at the Domus Santa Marta

We begin our day with Holy Mass at Santa Maria degli Angeli, the great basilica built over the Porziuncola, so closely linked to the life and mission of Saint Francis. After Mass, we depart for Foligno, where we will “meet” Saint Angela of Foligno—a 13th-century laywoman, wife and mother who, after a profound conversion, became a Franciscan tertiary and one of the great mystics of the Church. Her writings, born from deep experiences of repentance and union with God, have guided souls for centuries.

From Foligno, we continue to nearby Montefalco to visit a renowned winery known for its award-winning Sagrantino wine. Here we learn about this noble Umbrian wine and enjoy a tasting. A short drive then brings us to a beloved family-run restaurant, known for its unique local dishes and warm hospitality, where we share lunch together.

In the afternoon, we travel to Rome and enter Vatican City, checking into the Domus Santa Marta in time for dinner. This evening, we settle into our simple but comfortable rooms inside the Vatican walls, just a short walk from Saint Peter’s Basilica, as our pilgrim path turns toward the tombs of the Apostles.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

From the Domus Santa Marta to the Paths of Saint Francis in Rome

We begin this special day with Holy Mass in the Domus Santa Marta, our residence inside the Vatican walls. After Mass, we walk together from within Vatican City to St. Peter’s Square to participate in the Papal Audience with Pope Leo XIV. Standing among pilgrims from around the world, we receive the Holy Father’s apostolic blessing — a highlight of our time in Rome.

Following the Audience, we return to the Domus Santa Marta for lunch.

In the afternoon, we travel to Trastevere, one of Rome’s oldest and most atmospheric districts, known for its winding medieval lanes and deep Christian history. Here we visit San Francesco a Ripa, the church associated with Saint Francis during his early visits to Rome. We will see the simple cell where he stayed in 1209, when he came to seek approval of his way of life from Pope Innocent III — a humble, preserved space that still radiates the spirit of his simplicity and trust in God.

Inside this cell, we also view the remarkable altar that houses hidden relics associated with the Medici family, a unique devotional feature rarely encountered by visitors. The church also features Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s celebrated sculpture, The Blessed Ludovica Albertoni, often regarded as one of his final masterpieces.

We end the day with dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Trastevere, where we enjoy the warm hospitality and rich flavors of this beloved Roman neighborhood.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Honoring Saint Joseph in the Heart of Rome

We begin this special feast day at the Altar of Saint Joseph in Saint Peter’s Basilica, where we attend Holy Mass in honor of the Patron of the Universal Church and fathers. After Mass, we travel to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to venerate the tomb of Pope Francis and spend time in prayer before the ancient image of Our Lady, Salus Populi Romani, so deeply loved by recent popes.

We then continue to the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome and “mother and head” of all the churches in the city and in the world. Here we are reminded of the deep continuity of the Church through the ages, from Peter to our own time.

After returning to the Domus Santa Marta for lunch, we prepare to join the local faithful near the Vatican for the Procession of Saint Joseph and to take part in the Saint Joseph Festival, Italian-style — a lively expression of devotion, gratitude, and family joy. We end this feast day with dinner in the Domus Santa Marta, reflecting on Saint Joseph’s quiet strength and his protection over our pilgrim path.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Where Popes Rest and Mary Speaks to the Heart

We begin the morning with Holy Mass in the Domus Santa Marta before departing for Castel Gandolfo, the historic summer residence of the popes. Here we enjoy a private tour of the Apostolic Palace and its peaceful gardens overlooking Lake Albano — a rare opportunity to step inside the quiet retreat where many popes prayed, wrote, and rested.

After lunch in Castel Gandolfo, we travel to Genazzano to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel, a beloved Augustinian devotion dating back to the 15th century. According to tradition, the miraculous icon mysteriously appeared in the small church at Genazzano in 1467, resting lightly on an unfinished wall that, miraculously, supported it. For centuries, Augustinian friars have safeguarded this image, invoking Mary under this title as a guide for discernment, wisdom, and maternal protection.

This shrine holds special significance for Pope Leo XIV, as Genazzano was the destination of his first trip outside of Rome after his election — a gesture of filial devotion to Our Lady, entrusting his pontificate to her counsel and care.

We return to the Domus Santa Marta for dinner and rest, carrying with us the peace of Castel Gandolfo and the quiet strength of Mary, Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

A Day of Encounter with the Pillars of the Church

We begin our morning with Holy Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica, praying at the very heart of the Catholic faith. After Mass, we descend beneath the basilica for the Scavi Tour, where we will stand before the bones of Saint Peter, the fisherman chosen by Christ to be the Rock of the Church. This powerful encounter brings us to the foundations of the Christian faith in a tangible and unforgettable way.

From the tomb of Peter, we travel across the city to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, built over the burial place of the Apostle to the Gentiles. Here, if he is available, we will meet Cardinal James Harvey, who has long welcomed our pilgrim groups with warmth and insight.

We return to the Domus Santa Marta for lunch.

The afternoon is reserved for meetings inside the Vatican, offering a unique opportunity to engage more deeply with the life and work of the Holy See.

Our pilgrim path concludes with a final dinner in the Domus Santa Marta, a time to share reflections, gratitude, and the graces received as we walked from the bones of Saint Francis to the tombs of Peter and Paul.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Arrivederci a Roma...

After attending Sunday Mass at 7:00 a.m. in Saint Peter’s Basilica, we gather our luggage and depart for the airport for our return flights home. (NOTE: If you plan to attend Sunday Mass at 7:00 am, your flight home must be booked after 11:00 am)

As we leave Vatican City and begin our journey back, we carry with us the grace of these days — from standing before the bones of Saint Francis in Assisi to praying at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome. May the encounters, conversations, and moments of quiet prayer along this pilgrim path continue to unfold in our hearts long after we return home.

Important Departure Notes:

• The first transfer to the airport departs the Vatican at 7:00 a.m., allowing the required three hours before a 10:00 a.m. flight. This transfer is for Pilgrims not attending the 7:00 a.m. Mass.
  

• Pilgrims who wish to attend the 7:00 a.m. Sunday Mass: Book flights no earlier than 11:00 a.m.
  
  

Breakfast included