Our pilgrimage begins as we depart on our overnight flight to Milan. Meals and refreshments will be served aloft.

Upon arrival in Milan, we will be met at the airport and transfer to Oropa. Begin our pilgrimage in the area soon-to-be-St. Frassati knew well. The summer home of the Frassati family was in nearby Pollone, so Pier Giorgio visited the Sanctuary of Oropa regularly. This afternoon we will have time to rest and relax and become acquainted with this Marian shrine and the local area. (D) Overnight Biella

Begin this morning with a short journey to Pollone, where we can view the Frassati villa and walk the streets where Pier Giorgio walked. It is also the starting point of the Frassati Trail, a rugged trail through the mountains to Oropa. This trail is marked with signs of Pier Giorgio’s thoughts and writings. After hiking along the trail, the remainder of the day will be free. (B, D) Overnight Biella

Depart Oropa today for nearby Turin. We begin our time here in the Duomo – the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist – housing the reliquary containing the Shroud of Turin. We will visit the numerous side chapels of the Cathedral, including the resting place of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. This afternoon, journey to the Basilica di Maria Ausiliatrice (Mary, Help of Christians). This church houses the body of St. John Bosco (and was originally part of the home for boys he founded), St. Mary Mazzarello, St. Dominic Savio, and relics of over 6,000 other saints. After some prayerful time here, we proceed to our local hotel to check in for dinner and overnight. (B, D) Overnight Turin

After breakfast, we depart for Assisi, a town that welcomes us in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare into its peaceful interior, and our home for the next three nights. (B, D) Overnight Assisi

We begin our day in the heart of Assisi in the Shrine of Renunciation within St. Mary Major church. This shrine was built to commemorate the spot where St. Francis renounced his wealth and family and began his life of poverty and service to the Lord. It is now where the tomb of Bl. Carlo Acutis lies. Bl. Carlo – the first millennial Saint, scheduled to be canonized April 2025 – dedicated part of his short life to cataloging Eucharistic Miracles from around the world. After venerating his resting place, journey to the Basilica of St. Francis to venerate this saint’s burial place. Afterwards is the Basilica of St. Clare, which holds the famous San Damiano Crucifix that spoke to St. Francis, and where the golden locks of St. Clare’s hair and St. Francis’ poor patched tunic are kept. The remainder of the day will be free for personal prayer and activities. (B, D) Overnight Assisi

Witness where the power of the Eucharist turned away an army. The invading Saracen army was about to attack the Convent of San Damiano where St. Clare lived with her nuns in 1241. Even though bed-ridden, St. Clare got up and held the Blessed Sacrament in the air and saw the advancing army flee in terror establishing “The Miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi.” Also in the convent, we will visit the chapel where Jesus spoke to St. Francis from the crucifix, then proceed to the valley below. Here we will visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, site of the Porziuncola, the tiny church in the woods where St. Francis began his ministry and where St. Clare began her religious life. This afternoon we will travel up Mt. Subasio to L’Eremo delle Carceri (the Carceri Hermitage), St. Francis’ favorite retreat center, where he could remain in seclusion and prayer. Enjoy some personal prayer time in this peaceful location before descending back into Assisi for the evening. (B, D) Overnight Assisi

Depart Assisi and journey south to Orvieto, a walled town high on a hill that holds one of the greatest Eucharistic Miracles in its cathedral. In nearby Bolsena, a priest doubted the Eucharistic Presence during Mass and the host turned to real flesh and the wine to real blood during the consecration. The priest brought the blood-stained Corporal to Pope Urban in Orvieto, and it is now kept in a special reliquary for the faithful to view. See the steps of the Papal summer residence where Pope Urban IV held up the blood-stained corporal and announced his intention to institute the Feast of Corpus Christi. After venerating the sacred Eucharistic miracle, proceed to Rome to check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D) Overnight Rome

Today is the highlight of our pilgrimage experience – witnessing the canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati. Gather with thousands of other pilgrims at Tor Vergata for Mass and the canonization ceremony, both celebrated by Pope Francis as the culmination of the Jubilee of Youth. The balance of the afternoon will be free for personal prayer and reflection. (B, D) Overnight Rome

Our day today is filled with wonder and awe as we steep ourselves in the beauty of St. Peter’s Basilica. We will also walk through the first of four sets of Holy Doors on this Jubilee Year pilgrimage. Afterwards, we have a guided tour through the Vatican Museums which house artifacts from around the world and Eucharistic art to prepare ourselves for the greatest masterpiece yet: The Sistine Chapel. Painted by Michelangelo, it is the most famous ceiling in the world under which popes are chosen to lead the faithful. This afternoon, we travel to another one of the four major basilicas of Rome – St. Paul Outside the Walls. Though it was destroyed by a fire in 1823, it was originally built by Constantine in the fourth century over the site of St. Paul’s tomb and was rebuilt in the 19th century exactly as it was before the fire. (B, D) Overnight Rome

The Scala Santa, or Holy Stairs, are prayed this morning by climbing them on your knees because they are so sacred. Christ walked on these 28 marble stairs at the home of Pontius Pilate to be condemned to death. For those who cannot climb the stairs on their knees there are other stairs available for walking up that also lead to the chapel at the top. Our prayerful experience continues with a visit to St. John Lateran, the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic faithful and the oldest basilica in Europe. Here we will walk through our next set of Holy Doors. This afternoon, we journey to St. Mary Major, where we venerate the crib of Christ, view the famous icon painting attributed to St. Luke, and walk through our last set of Holy Doors. Tonight, we celebrate our farewell dinner together at a local restaurant. (B, D) Overnight Rome

Today our pilgrimage comes to a close as we transfer to the airport in Rome for our return trip home, taking the memories and graces of this unforgettable pilgrimage with us. (B)