*Please note this pilgrimage involves a certain amount of walking and physical activity, such as stairs, standing for extended periods and walking on uneven surfaces; especially when visiting historical and religious sites. We kindly ask that you assess your comfort level with these activities before booking and travel with a companion that can provide assistance if required. If you have any mobility concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our team to discuss.
DAY 1: Monday 31st March – Rome
Early departure from Dublin Airport at 06:20hrs with Aer Lingus. We will arrive in Rome at approximately 10:25hrs with the full day ahead. Our Joe Walsh Tour representative will meet and greet us on arrival.
Upon collecting our bags from the carousel, we will then be transferred by private coach to Santa Maria Maggiore – S. Mary Major for lunch (own expense) in one of the many local cafes’, or Bistrot’s, suggested by our experienced tour guide.
After lunch, we will have an orientation walking tour of the area, and visit and Mass of the Major Papal Basilica before heading to the Hotel Cardinal St Peter, situated only 2km away from the Vatican with views of St Peter’s Basilica, where we will be staying for the next 4 nights on a Half Board basis.
Time to check in, dinner, and overnight.
DAY 2: Tuesday 1st April – St Peter Basilica, St Peter Square, and the Holy Door.
Today, after breakfast we will have a full morning with a guided tour of St Peter Basilica, St Peter Square, and the Holy Door.
The Basilica is one of the holiest sites of Christianity and Catholic Tradition, it is traditionally the burial site of its titular, St. Peter, who was the head of the twelve Apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, the first Bishop of Antioch and later the first Bishop of Rome, rendering him the first Pope. After such a full and interesting morning time for lunch before starting our walking tour of Rome main sites. We will be admiring the iconic Trevi Fountain, followed by the Spanish Steps and the former Roman temple “Pantheon”. Time to visit and have Mass in Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful squares in Rome. This is the end of our day,we will be transferred to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3: Wednesday 02nd April – Papal Audience
Early wake up and breakfast today. We will be picked up from the hotel around 7am to spend the morning participating in the Papal Audience. Pilgrims and visitors will have the chance to see the Pope and receive Papal blessings or Apostolic blessings from the successor of the Apostle Peter during their visit. The Audience with the Pope consists of small teachings and readings mainly in Italian but also in English.
Our day will follow with lunch and the visit to another Major Papal Basilica: the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. The Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls is one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas, along with the basilicas of Saint John in the Lateran, Saint Peter’s, and Saint Mary Major, as well as one of the city’s Seven Pilgrim Churches.
Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4: Thursday 3rd April – St. Mary of the Angels, Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran
After a good breakfast we will be picked up and transferred to Piazza della Repubblica where we will witness St. Mary of the Angels, the work of the famous meridian, then by 12.30 Mass will be celebrated at St. Bernard Church. Time for lunch around the Colosseum area, where we will have the chance to admire this famous amphitheatre (from the outside) and learn about the Roman Forum.
In the afternoon we will visit the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. This is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and serves as the seat of the bishop of Rome, the pope. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight
DAY 5: Friday 4th April – Mass at the Irish College – Flight back to Dublin
Today is the last day of this Rome’s pilgrimage. After a good breakfast and check out we will be picked up from the hotel for one last important stop before our flight back to Dublin.
We will visit and have Mass at the Irish College. The Pontifical Irish College is a Catholic seminary in Rome for the training and education of priests. It serves as a residence for clerical students from all over the world. Our flight back will depart at 15:10 in the afternoon.
