This pilgrimage encompasses some of the holiest Catholic sites that Italy has to offer ending with a prayerful visit to the Marian apparition site at Medjugorje! In Rome, step foot into the four Major Basilicas, see the Square from the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, and attend a Papal Audience with his successor, our American Pope, Leo XIV. After three nights in the Eternal City, we head to the Monastery of Monte Casino before arriving in San Giovanni Rotondo, the shrine of St Padre Pio. While in the San  Giovanni Rotondo area, we will also visit the beautiful Gargano Peninsula to the Grotto of St. Michael  the Archangel. The pilgrimage then heads north to the Eucharistic Miracle site in Lanciano and the Holy House of Nazareth in Loreto before taking an overnight ferry to Croatia. Once in Split, we head directly to Medjugorje, the site of the 1981 Marian Apparitions for our final two days 

Today marks the beginning of your pilgrimage as you embark on an overnight flight to Rome. You can rest assured that all the necessary preparations for your journey have been taken care of. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight. Your spiritual journey starts here! 

This morning, we arrive in Istanbul, clear immigration and wait for our connecting flight to Rome.  Upon our arrival in the enchanting city of Rome, we will clear immigration for the EU, collect our luggage and meet our Tour Manager and bus driver.  The first stop today is the beautiful area of Trastevere where we will celebrate Holy Mass at the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere.  Following Holy Mass, you will have time for lunch at one of the local restaurants surrounding the square.  Following lunch, those interested in touring the Colosseum will be taken by bus to the entrance for a guided tour while others will head to the hotel for a chance to check-in and relax.  In the evening, we will gather as a group at a local restaurant for a traditional Italian dinner. (D) 

Our day starts with a joy-filled general audience with Pope Leo XIV.  This will be our opportunity to show our Chicago, White Sox and American flags while he passes by in the "Pope Mobile". Next, for those interested, we explore the Vatican Museum and inside of St Peter's Basilicas and marvel at masterpieces by Michelangelo, including the Pieta and the Sistine Chapel. Holy Mass will be celebrated at Santa Maria in Traspontina before the group heads to the “Old City” for a walking tour past Castle St Angelo, the Angel bridge, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and finally the Spanish Steps.  Since dinner is on your own, you can enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants in the old city or walk back to a restaurant in the hotel area.  (B) 

Today, we make our way to visit the Four Major Basilicas of Rome.  We start at the Basilica of St. John Lateran and the Santa Scala chapel (the sacred stair Christ climbed).  We take a brief walk to the church of Santa Croce in Jerusalem to celebrate Holy Mass and venerate several relics from Our Lord’s crucifixion.  From here we bus to the Basilica of St Mary Major where the tomb of the late Pope Francis is located. The final Major Basilica to visit will be St Paul Outside the Wall.  Our day ends with a tour of the catacombs of St Sebastian where we see how early Christians worshiped and were buried.  After a very busy day our touring, we return to the hotel to prepare for our departure in the morning.  Dinner on your own. (B) 

After breakfast and checkout, we board the bus and head across Italy toward San Giovanni Rotondo.  On the ride, we will stop at Lanciano for Holy Mass at the Eucharistic Miracle church.  The miracle occurred in the 8th century when a Basilian monk who had doubts about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, witness the bread and wine change into real flesh and blood at the time of consecration.  We continue our journey to our hotel in San Giovanni for check-in and dinner. (B/D) 

After breakfast, we attend Holy Mass at St. Padre Pio's resting place, tour the sanctuary, and visit the crucifix where he received the stigmata and pray before his preserved body. Next, we take the bus for a beautiful view of the Gargano Peninsula on our way to the Grotto of Michael the Archangel. Our day concludes with a lovely dinner, preparation for checkout in the morning and a restful night at the hotel. (B/D) 

Today we checkout, grab a boxed breakfast and begin our journey back towards Rome to catch our flight to Split, Croatia.  On the drive, we will stop at the beautiful Abbey of Monte Cassino for Holy Mass with the local community.  After, we return to the bus for the final part of our drive to the Rome airport.  The flight to Split is less than an hour.  Once in Croatia, we will gather our luggage, meet our new Tour Manager and driver and head to our hotel in Medjugorje for check-in and dinner.  (B/D)

After a restful night, you will have the chance to deepen your faith and join pilgrims from around the globe on their spiritual journey. We will celebrate Holy Mass in the Shrine, have the opportunity to hike up Apparition Hill, the site where the visionaries first saw Our Lady. You can also visit the Blue Cross at the hill's base, where it's believed that Our Lady appeared to the children while they were hiding from the communist police in the early days of the alleged apparitions. Dinner is at the hotel.  (B/D)

This is our final day in Medjugorje.  Following breakfast, we will check out of the hotel, head back to the shrine for Holy Mass and enjoy the morning an early afternoon in this holy place. Mid-afternoon, we will take our bus to the city of Sarajevo for our final stop before heading home.  The day will conclude with our farewell dinner at the hotel.  (B/D)

Our day begins early with checkout, grabbing a boxed breakfast and a short drive to the Sarajevo International Airport.  Once in Istanbul, we will clear immigration once again before boarding the final flight into Chicago.