DAY 1: U.S.A. / EUROPE. Saturday

Tour members will depart to Rome. Dinner and breakfast will be served aboard the flight.

DAY 2: ROME/NORCIA/CASCIA Sunday

Upon arrival in Rome, meet with our Tour Leader and driver at airport and transfer to Norcia. This small city in the heart of the Sibillini Mountains was the birthplace of St Benedict. Visit the city and in the evening at 07.30 pm, if we are lucky, the friars will allow us to take part in the Compieta. This is the last prayer in the evening, during which 13 friars will sing in the Crypt of St Benedict Church. It is an amazing experience that should be followed in complete silence, without any word and photo. (Our petition to participate will be submitted to the friars, however, allowance by the friars is not guaranteed.) We have also to take into consideration that Norcia suffered a big earthquake in 2016. The rebuilding of the Basilica may not be complete, so a visit cannot be confirmed until closer to departure. In the event, we cannot visit Norcia, we will visit Cascia and the Monastery of St. Rita of Cascia. Dinner and overnight in Cascia.

DAY 3: NORCIA/SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO Monday

Breakfast in hotel and departure to San Giovanni Rotondo. During the transfer, we will stop in the Land of Castelluccio. During the month of June and July it is possible to admire an impressive array of flowers, which paints the landscape with many different colors. We will continue then to Lanciano where we will have free time for lunch.

In the afternoon, we will celebrate Holy Mass . Lanciano is famous for the Miracle of Lanciano which dates back to the eighth century. A monk who had doubts about the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, found when he said the words of consecration at Mass, that the bread and wine changed into flesh and blood. It has been certified by the Catholic Church as a Eucharistic Miracle. At the end of the celebration, we will continue our way to San Giovanni Rotondo. Accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 4: SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO /ROME Tuesday

Breakfast in Hotel and visit of St Pio Sanctuary designed by the famous Architect Renzo Piano. Time to visit the place where San Pio lived. At the end of the visit transfer to the nearby Monte Sant’Angelo. Monte Sant'Angelo as a town appeared only in the eleventh century. Between 1081 and 1103, Monte Sant'Angelo was the capital of a large Norman dominion under the control of Count Henry, who was a vassal of the Byzantine Empire. The grotto which houses the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel where according to legend, St. Michael appeared in 490, 492 and 493, has been the site of many famous pilgrimages, which started from Mont Saint-Michel. Pope John Paul II visited the sanctuary in 1987. The sanctuary is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Holy Mass at Monte Sant’Angelo and time for lunch. At the end departure to Rome where we will arrive after 4 hours and a half. Accommodation in our hotel, Dinner and overnight

DAY 5: ROME Wednesday

After Breakfast, we will transfer in St. Peter Square for the Audience with the Pope**. At the end free time for lunch and then visit of the Vatican Museum, The Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Cathedral. Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel between 1508 and 1512, and later painted The Last Judgment between 1535 and 1541 for Popes Clement VII and Paul III. The primary function of the chapel is the Papal Conclave, providing the place where the College of Cardinals of the Church gathers to select a new Pope.

Then walk through Saint Peter’s Basilica, the present structure completed in 1590 was built over the Byzantine and Middle Ages structures that marked the tomb of Saint Peter. There are more than 100 tombs within the Basilica, including most recently Saint John Paul II. In the afternoon, continue on your pilgrim journey to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Maria Maggiore). We celebrate Mass here. This is the largest Marian Church in Rome. Its construction began after the Council of Ephesus in 431 proclaimed that Mary was the Mother of God.  Saint Jerome, translator of the Bible into the Latin Vulgate, is buried here.

Dinner and overnight at our hotel

DAY 6: ROME/SPALATO/MEDJUGORIE Thursday

After our breakfast, we transfer to the Fiumicino Airport for the departure with our direct flight to Split. Upon arrival, meeting with our driver and guide and departure to reach Medjugorje by highway with GT bus. Arrival, accommodation in hotel (400m from the church). Free lunch and start of activities. Holy Rosary, Mass and meeting with the Seers if possible. Dinner and overnight

DAY 7: MEDJUGORIE Friday

After our breakfast, we will climb the Podbrdo ( the hill of the apparition), time for prayer and visit of the Blue Cross. Time for lunch and in the afternoon visit of Mostar. Holy Rosary, Mass and meeting with the Seers, if possible. Dinner and overnight

DAY 8: MEDJUGORIE Saturday

After our Breakfast, we will participate in the Via Crucis on the Križevac (Mount of the Cross). Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit and testify to the Village of the Mother. It’s a community - orphanage and addiction treatment - founded by Fr Slavko and directed by Fr Dragan Ruzic (Chaplain). Holy Rosary, Mass and meeting with the Seers, if possible. Dinner and overnight

DAY 9: MEDJUGORIE/SPLIT/ROME Sunday

After our Breakfast, Holy Mass and departure to the Split Airport for our flight to Rome. Upon arrival, transfer to the center of the city and guided tour of the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. Six Popes are entombed here. Next door is the Holy Staircase (Scala Santa), brought from Pilate’s Palace in Jerusalem by Saint Helena in the 4th century. Climbing the stairs on your knees is a devotion that many pilgrims perform, and a plenary indulgence is granted for completing this feat. Accommodation in our hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 10: ROME Monday

Breakfast in hotel. Then we have a guided tour of Ancient Rome. We will start with the visit at the Coliseum, also called Anfiteatro Flavio. Then we will proceed through Via dei Fori Imperiali and we will end the visit with the Carcere Mamertine, where St. Peter was imprisoned. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, we have a guided visit of the center of Rome where we can admire Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, the Church of St. Agostino where is conserved the Michelangelo famous painting “The Pilgrim’s Virgins”. The Church of San Luigi dei Francesi where we can admire the other famous Caravaggio Painting “The Conversion of St Matthew”. We will end with Fontana di Trevi and The Spanish Steps.

Dinner and overnight in hotel

DAY11: ROME/USA Tuesday

After our breakfast, we transfer to the airport to fly back to home, keeping the incredible memories of an unforgettable pilgrimage.

** The audience of the Pope are every Wednesday, except when the Pope is not in the Vatican (July and August and during his pastoral trips)