Our spiritual pilgrimage begins today as we board our transatlantic flight to Krakow. Meals and refreshments will be served aloft.

Upon arrival in Krakow we will be met by tour manager, who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. Time permitting, we will enjoy an afternoon tour of Krakow. We will then transfer to our hotel to check in for dinner and overnight. (D, Mass) Overnight Krakow

Depart our hotel early this morning for an excursion to Czestochowa, the most popular pilgrimage site in Poland. Here we will visit the Jasna Gora Monastery where we will see the Treasury, Knight’s Hall, Refectory and the Basilica of the Holy Cross and Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The highlight of our visit will be viewing the famous icon of the Black Madonna to which numerous miracles are attributed. We’ll return to our hotel in Krakow later this evening for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Krakow

Today we walk in St. John Paul II’s footsteps as we retrace much of his early life, beginning with Wadowice where we will have Mass at the Gothic Basilica of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, where he received baptism, first communion, and confirmation. See the Baroque nave and the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Perpetual help, in front of which the future saint prayed daily. Get to know the former Karol Wojtyla in a new way as we explore his hometown and the museum located in his family home, containing relics of his youth and personal belongings from when he was a local priest. After lunch, we will experience the highlight of our pilgrimage – visiting the Divine Mercy Shrine in Lagiewniki, where Saint Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy, lived and died. Enjoy a guided tour of the shrine, which includes the convent chapel and St. Faustina’s tomb, and venerate the image of Divine Mercy and the relics of St. Faustina. Listen to a talk from one of the sisters of her Order. Afterwards, we have to opportunity to pray by a relic of St. John Paul II in the new center “Have no Fear.” Return to our hotel for our final night in Krakow. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Krakow

Depart this morning for the Czech capital of Prague, one of Europe’s most attractive capitals. En route, stop in Brno to visit the Old Town and the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, where we will celebrate Mass. Upon arrival in Prague, we will check-in at our local hotel. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Prague

Today we will enjoy a full day tour of Prague, starting with a visit to Loreto Shrine, one of the most important pilgrimage shrines in the Czech Republic. Then visit Prague Castle where we will visit St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, and the picturesque Golden Lane. Proceed to Mala Strana, “the Little Quarter”, with its beautiful architectural buildings. Here we will visit the Church of St. Nicholas followed the Church of Our Lady Victorious where we will see the famous statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. This evening, we will cross the Charles Bridge to visit the Old Town, considered to be one of the best historical city centers in Europe. We will have dinner together near the Old Town Square with time to view the historic sites, including the Town Hall with its famous Astronomical Clock which comes alive when the hour strikes and the twelve disciples appear to bless the crowd. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Prague

Transfer to the airport in Prague for our morning nonstop flight to Milan. Upon arrival in Milan, we will visit the Duomo, one of the world’s largest Gothic Cathedrals. The Duomo houses the tomb of St. Charles Borromeo, known for his leadership during the counter-reformation, as well as the baptistry where St. Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose. Then journey to Turin to check into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Turin

This morning, we begin in the Duomo – the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist – housing the reliquary containing the Shroud of Turin. We will have what is perhaps a once‐in‐a‐lifetime opportunity to view the Shroud (pending confirmation). After time for prayer here and veneration of the shroud, we can visit other side chapels of the Cathedral, including the resting place of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati (soon to be canonized). This afternoon we proceed to the Sanctuary of Our Lady della Consolata, followed by 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 time for prayer here we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Turin

Upon departure from Turin this morning, we journey through the region of Emilia-Romagna to the province of Parma. We’ll stop here for some free time and lunch on our own before continuing to our hotel near Florence for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Florence

After breakfast, we depart for the peaceful town of Assisi. We begin our time here 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 – 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. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Assisi

Depart Assisi very early this morning for Rome. Upon arrival, we journey to the Scala Santa, or Holy Stairs. Christ walked on these 28 marble stairs at the home of Pontius Pilate before he was condemned to death. For those who cannot climb the stairs on their knees, as is tradition, there are other stairs leading 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 first set of Jubilee Holy Doors. Finally, at St. Mary Major we venerate the crib of Christ, view the famous icon attributed to St. Luke, and walk through our second set of Holy Doors. We then proceed to our hotel to check in for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

Our day in Rome is filled with wonder and awe as we steep ourselves in the beauty of St. Peter’s Basilica, which beckons us into its interior through the arms of Bernini’s Colonnade. Marveling at Michelangelo’s Pieta and praying at the Perpetual Adoration Chapel renovated by St. John Paul II are just two of the highlights of our tour. We will also walk through our third set of Holy Doors. Afterwards, we walk through the Vatican Museums which house artifacts from the 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. One is always looking up at the masterwork of art that explains the theology of God. Later this afternoon, we take a peaceful tour of the tranquil Vatican Gardens. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

Today we journey to St. Peter’s Square with thousands of other pilgrims to attend the Wednesday audience with Pope Francis and receive his blessing – as his schedule allows. After lunch, we proceed St. Paul Outside the Walls, originally built by Constantine in the fourth century over the site of St. Paul’s tomb. After some time for prayer and walking through our final set of Holy Doors, we visit the Catacombs of St. Callistus and venerate the martyrs and early saints of the Church. Tonight, we will celebrate the end of our pilgrimage with a festive farewell dinner. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

Today we say “Ciao” to Italia and transfer to the airport for our return flight home, cherishing all the wonderful memories and graces of this pilgrimage.