Join Elon University Campus Ministry on a ten-day pilgrimage through Italy — a journey of faith and discovery following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi. From the grandeur of Rome to the peaceful hills of Assisi, encounter the heart of the Church and the humble spirit of its beloved saint. Begin in Rome, where you’ll explore the treasures of the Vatican, receive the Pope’s blessing, and pray in basilicas that have inspired pilgrims for centuries. Travel north to Assisi and beyond — to La Verna, Gubbio, and Greccio — sacred places that reveal the life, ministry, and enduring message of St. Francis. Through prayer, community, and the beauty of Italy’s landscapes, this pilgrimage offers space for reflection, prayer, and renewal — a chance to return home strengthened in faith and inspired by the simplicity and joy of St. Francis.

Encounter Christ through the Beauty and culture of Rome & Assisi with Elon University Catholic Campus Ministry!

Final price is $4,475.

If you need to renew your passport, you may register by putting all zeroes for the passport information and uploading a blank page for the passport scan. When you get your updated passport, you must email the information and passport scan to info@vocatiotravel.com.

Note that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the return date. You are responsible for ensuring that you have all your necessary travel documents (such as visas) in order before travel. 

Buckle in and prepare for the pilgrimage to come!

Arrive in Rome, where ancient history and Christian faith meet. After greeting your guide and driver, embark on a golf cart tour through the city’s most famous landmarks—the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, and the Pantheon. You will also tour several Franciscan sites, such as the Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli, San Francesco a Ripa Grande, and the Convento di Santa Maria in Aracoeli, important devotional sites to the saint. Conclude the day with a welcome dinner and overnight stay in the Rome area.

After breakfast, head to St. Peter’s Square to attend the General Audience with Pope Leo XIV, joining pilgrims from around the world for prayer and reflection.
Later, visit St. Peter’s Basilica, a masterpiece of art and faith, followed by a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, home to Michelangelo’s frescoes. Celebrate a private Mass, then enjoy dinner and overnight accommodations in the Rome area.

Leave Rome behind and journey north through the rolling countryside to La Verna, a peaceful mountain retreat where St. Francis received the Stigmata. Stop for lunch en route (at your expense) before visiting the Franciscan Sanctuary of the Stigmata, a place of silence and prayer. Celebrate a private Mass surrounded by the forested slopes of Tuscany. Continue to Assisi, a hilltop town known for its charm and deep Franciscan roots. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

Begin with private Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis, where the saint’s tomb rests beneath Giotto’s beautiful frescoes. A guided walking tour of Assisi follows, including visits to the Basilica of St. Clare, home of the saint’s incorrupt body, and Santa Maria Maggiore, where St. Carlo Acutis is entombed. After lunch on your own, visit the Basilica of St. Rufino, where St. Carlo’s heart is kept, and spend some free time exploring Assisi’s quiet streets, shops, and viewpoints. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

After breakfast, travel to Gubbio, one of Umbria’s oldest towns, rich with medieval charm. Celebrate a private Mass at Santa Maria della Vittoria, where St. Francis is said to have tamed the wolf that terrorized the town. Enjoy a guided tour that includes the Church of San Francesco and other notable sites tied to Franciscan history. After lunch on your own, continue to Greccio, a quiet village set among the hills of Lazio. Dinner and overnight stay in Greccio.

Visit the Sanctuary of the Nativity Scene, founded by St. Francis in 1223 as the site of the first live Nativity, created to bring the story of Bethlehem to life for local villagers.
After lunch at your own pace, visit the monastery and celebrate a private Mass in this peaceful place of reflection. Dinner and overnight stay in Greccio.

After breakfast, travel back to Rome and visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, built over the tomb of St. Paul the Apostle. Then, take a guided tour of the Catacombs of San Callixtus, one of Rome’s oldest underground Christian burial sites, where faith endured during times of persecution. Celebrate a private Mass, followed by dinner and overnight stay in Rome.

This morning, visit two of Rome’s four major basilicas: St. John Lateran, the Pope’s cathedral and the oldest church in the Western world, and St. Mary Major, known for its mosaics and devotion to the Virgin Mary. After lunch on your own, enjoy free time to explore the city, relax, or shop for souvenirs. In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner and pizza/pasta workshop, a lighthearted celebration of friendship and shared faith before your journey home. Overnight stay in Rome.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the United States. Carry home the peace of Assisi, the inspiration of St. Francis, and the memories of a journey that deepened your faith and connection to the Church.