Your flight arrives in Rome mid-morning. After gathering our luggage, a comfortable coach bus will meet the group and we will head immediately to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. One of the four Major Basilicas in Rome, our group will celebrate Holy Mass and receive a guided tour.  The bus will then take us to the Trastevere neighborhood where we will tour one of the oldest Churches in Rome, Santa Maria in Trastevere.  After the tour you'll be able to enjoy a leisurely lunch before the bus takes us to our hotel for check-in, unpacking and time to refresh.  In the evening, we will walk through St Peter's Square to a local restaurant where we will enjoy a “Welcome to Rome” traditional Italian meal. Lunch on your own. (D) 

After breakfast we head to St Peter’s square and join other Pilgrims for the Papal Audience. Following the Audience, our bus drives us to the Catacombs of St Sebastian where we will tour and celebrate Holy Mass.  Following Holy Mass, we will take a short walk to a wonderful restaurant for a traditional Italian lunch.  After lunch, we return to the hotel and walk to St Peter's Basilica, the second Major Basilica of our trip, and the largest Catholic church in the world.  Father Pacer will guide us to see Michelangelo’s Pieta, pray at the tomb of Pope St. John Paul II, absorb the overwhelming beauty of every side altar, mosaic, and statue.  (B/L)

After a quick breakfast, the bus will leave at 7:15am for the approximate two-and-a-half-hour drive to Assisi. On arrival we start with a guided tour of the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli which played a significant role in St. Francis’ life and where the Porziuncola is located. After a short bus ride, the group will walk up to the Basilica of St. Francis where we celebrate Holy Mass before touring the upper and lower churches and praying at the Saint's tomb. After a group lunch we will have the opportunity for an optional trip to St. Francis’ hermitage (small additional cost of 10 euro per person) or shopping. Our day will conclude with a tour of the Basilica of St. Clare. We depart for Rome at approximately 4:30pm. Dinner on your own (B/L)  

 Today we leave the hotel for St Peter’s Basilica to celebrate Holy Mass in the crypts of the Pope’s. Following Holy Mass, we will take a short walk to the Vatican Museum (we will stop for a coffee and pastry during this walk).  Here you will enjoy a guided tour of one of the greatest museums in the world and storehouse of many of the world’s most stunning masterpieces. This tour includes the Sistine Chapel. Following the tour, you will have free time for lunch and the opportunity to return to St Peter's, climb the copula or visit Rome's "old city".  Dinner is on your own.  (B)

After breakfast at the hotel our coach bus will take us to the third major Basilica, St. Mary Major for Holy Mass in one of the side chapels. After Holy Mass we will be met by our guide for a tour of this beautiful Basilica. The guide with then take us on a short walk to the ancient minor Basilicas of St. Prassede and St. Pudenziana to see some of the oldest mosaics in Rome. Our group will then walk to the Church of St Peter in Chains to see Michelangelo’s sculpture of Moses and the very chains which tradition says held St. Peter bound in Rome. Following a group lunch, you then have a guided tour of the incredible Colosseum and Roman Forum. After these tours, the group will walk back to our hotel, visiting local churches on the route. Dinner on your own (B) 

After breakfast at the hotel, we will walk to St Peter’s Basilica to give this structure its highest purpose – praise and worship of God. The group will attend the concelebrated, multilingual, 10:30am Mass at the Altar of the Chair. Following Holy Mass our group will gather back in St Peter’s Square where we will join thousands of others and Pope Francis for the Angelus at noon.  After a quick lunch by St. Peter’s square, the guide will lead us through the streets of Rome to see Castel Santangelo, Piazza Navona, the Church of San Luigi Francese, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain.  After touring, you are free for the evening.  Dinner is on your own.  (B) 

The day starts with breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast we take a short bus ride to St. Lawrence Outside the Walls, Santa Croce en Gerusaleme, which houses relics of the cross of Christ followed by a very short walk to St. John Lateran for Holy Mass and tour of the fourth major Basilica in Rome. We board the bus and head back to the hotel where you are free for the afternoon to explore other sites in Rome you've yet to experience.  In the evening, we will enjoy a group "farewell dinner" at a restaurant close to our hotel.  (B / D) 

Our flight departs early from Rome, so we will receive a packaged breakfast for the ride to the airport.   Our direct flight is on United Airlines and is scheduled to depart at 9:45am arriving in Chicago at 2:10pm