Trip Overview

Eighty years ago, St. Josemaría Escrivá made his first journey to Rome to seek official approval of Opus Dei from the Holy See to allow its apostolate to expand to other countries. In the years that followed, he constructed the central headquarters of Opus Dei and laid the foundation for initiatives in Rome that continue to serve the Church today.

Now, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his canonization (October 6, 2002), join the St. Josemaria Institute and Verso Ministries for an unforgettable spiritual pilgrimage as we journey In the Footsteps of St. Josemaría Escrivá to Rome!

What’s Included?

  • Professional tour escort to accompany you for the duration of the pilgrimage
  • Local, licensed tour guide(s)
  • Transportation on private motorcoach
  • Accommodations in double-occupancy rooms (single rooms available on a limited basis)
  • Meals as indicated on itinerary
  • Gratuities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), hotel staff, and meals
  • Opportunity for daily Mass
  • Tickets for included activities
  • Audio headset for each pilgrim
  • Verso pilgrimage booklets and pilgrim kits
  • Contribution to the St. Josemaria Institute: $150

Itinerary

October 1, 2027
  • Depart the U.S. on your overnight flight to Rome
October 2, 2027
  • Arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport
  • Transfer to the hotel to check-in and freshen up
  • Pilgrims will make their way on their own to the hotel
  • Check-in begins at 3 p.m.
  • Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel Twenty One or similar

Meals included: Dinner

October 3, 2027
  • Walk roughly 10 minutes (650 m) to Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by a self-guided tour of the Basilica, including a Verso made handout containing information about the Basilica and certain areas significant to St. Josemaria such as the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the icon of the Madonna del Soccorso, the Chapel of St. Joseph, and the tomb of St. Pius X.
  • Pray the Angelus with the Pope in St Peter’s Square
  • Following the Angelus, walk over to the left transept of St. Peter’s Basilica to view the Statue of St. Josemaria Escriva, unveiled in 2005
  • Time for Lunch
  • Walk roughly 3 minutes (230 m) to visit Piazza della Citta Leonina, noting the top-floor apartment at No. 9, where St. Josemaria stayed and where he set up a small oratory after receiving permission from the Holy See
  • Take the bus to visit the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, where the body of St. Catherine of Siena is housed. Take time to tour the Church and to say a prayer for the Pope as St. Josemaria and his “beloved friend” St. Catherine were known to do
  • Enjoy dinner on your own
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel Twenty One or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

October 4, 2027
  • Take the bus to Mass at St. Jerome of Charity
  • Visit Casa di Santa Brigida, the residence for seminarians participating in The Rome Experience and which houses relics of St. Bridget of Sweden
  • Time for lunch
  • Visit Santa Croce for a lecture and time to visit with members of the Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer Historical Institute (ISJE)
  • Take the bus to visit the Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, a private Catholic university established in 1993 and promoted by Opus Dei
  • Enjoy dinner on your own
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel Twenty One or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

October 5, 2027
  • Transfer via bus to Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the oldest churches in Rome and the burial site of St. Paul
  • Take the bus to Visit the Appian Way and Catacombs of St. Callixtus, reflecting on the early Christians and the inspiration they give us to practice our shared faith with greater love and devotion
  • Free afternoon to explore Rome
  • If interested, this would be a great time to visit the Vatican Museum
  • Enjoy dinner on your own
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel Twenty One or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

October 6, 2027
  • Transfer on the bus to Celebrate Mass at the Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace, the central church of Opus Dei, with time after to take a tour of the church and to pray at the tomb of St. Josemaria
  • Take the bus to visit the Basilica of St. Eugene for a Recollection
  • Time for lunch
  • Via bus, Transfer to the ELIS Center, an initiative established under Pope John XXIII and entrusted to Opus Dei, with the goal of providing training and education to underprivileged youth
  • Celebratory Dinner at a local restaurant in honor of the 25th Anniversary
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel Twenty One or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

October 7, 2027
  • After being transferred via bus, begin your morning with the moving experience of climbing the Scala Santa, the Holy Stairs that Christ climbed on his way to his trial, brought to Rome from Jerusalem by St. Helena
  • Walk across the street to Celebrate Mass at the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome where a relic of the table of the Last Supper is held
  • Walk 15 minutes (900 m) to visit the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and venerate the relics from Christ’s Passion
  • Time for lunch
  • Enjoy a free evening in Rome and dinner on your own
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel Twenty One or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

October 8, 2027
  • Take the bus over to celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Peter in Chains
  • Following, walk by the Colosseum and Roman Forum (exterior views only) while praying the Stations of the Cross with St. Josemaria’s reflections, roughly a 25 minute walk (0.9 miles)
  • Time for lunch
  • Walk 18 minutes (0.7 miles) to visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, which houses sacred wood from the nativity crib of Jesus beneath the main altar
  • Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel Twenty One or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

October 9, 2027
  • For those not joining the extension, transfer to Rome Fiumicino Airport and depart on your journey home (pilgrims
    transfer on their own)

Meals included: Breakfast

Extensions

October 9, 2027
  • For those joining the Loreto extension, transfer to Loreto via bus
  • Arrive in Loreto with free time for lunch
  • Enjoy a 2 hour (2-3 mile) walking tour of the City Center, including the Piazza della Madonna, Porta Marina, and Fontana Maggiore
  • Overnight in Loreto

Accommodations: San Francesco Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

October 10, 2027
  • Walk 20 minutes (0.6 miles) to celebrate Mass at the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto, where St. Josemaria visited many times and expressed a deep gratitude to Our Lady of Loreto.
  • Enjoy time after Mass to pray and explore the sanctuary
  • Walk next door to visit the Pontifical Museum of the Holy House of Loreto, viewing the beautiful tapestries, ceramics, and paintings present in this historic Apostolic Palace
  • Time for lunch
  • Transfer to a hotel near Rome Airport on the bus
  • Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel Isola Sacra or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

October 11, 2027
  • Transfer to airport and begin your journey home
    • Pilgrims transfer on their own to the airport

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodations

Standard Accommodations

Optional Extension:

Please Note: Pilgrims should reference their Pack & Prep Handout, distributed approximately one month prior to departure, for finalized accommodation details.

Pricing

Package Cost
$4,365

Trip Savings

Optional Add-ons

Loreto Extension
$799 / person
Single supplement (Rome itinerary)
$1,311 / person
Single supplement (Loreto extension)
$299 / person
Travel Protection
Quote provided after registration

Pricing listed per person in double, triple, and quad-occupancy rooms and does not include airfare.

The number of available single-occupancy rooms is limited.

Rates assume a minimum of 20 full-paying pilgrims.

If pilgrims traveling by themselves are unable to be matched with a roommate, the single room supplement may apply. See Additional Information section below for details.

*Travel protection is calculated based on a variety of factors and optional plans are provided by Travel Insured International.

Led by

St. Josemaria Institute
Downers Grove, IL
The pilgrimage is led by the St. Josemaria Institute. A priest of Opus Dei will be available for Mass and confession throughout the pilgrimage.

More Details

  • Roundtrip group flight or airport transfers
  • Verso Pilgrimage Director (included if group is 30+ pilgrims)
  • Passport, visa, or luggage fees
  • Any personal purchases
  • Any meals not indicated on itinerary
  • Recommended travel protection with Cancel for Any Reason coverage
  • Anything else not explicitly mentioned as included

Payment Schedule

  • Deposit due upon registration – $500/person
  • Final balance due 120 days prior to departure – Final balance

Please note: Payment plans can be arranged if needed. Please contact us if you would like to pay in several installments.

Final package price is estimated. Pricing is based on currency exchange rates as of October 2026. Any drastic fluctuations in currency exchange rates may impact final pricing. If you have any questions about pricing and when final pricing decisions will be communicated, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

 

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations of individual pilgrims must be made in writing (email or letter) to Verso Ministries. Cancellations are possible at any time, but refunds are subject to cancellation fees at the rates listed here. Cancellation fees are for individual pilgrims. Any cancellation charges incurred from other suppliers or vendors (flight, lodging, ground transportation, tickets, etc.) may come in addition to the administrative fees listed here. All group flight airline tickets, optional excursions, trip options, pre/post extensions, private transfers, and additional hotel nights are non-refundable 100 days or less prior to departure unless otherwise noted. We highly recommend the purchase of individual travel insurance.

Cancellations are possible at any time, but refunds are subject to cancellation fees at the rates listed here.

  • Within 2 weeks of deposit: Free Cancellation*
  • 14 days after deposit and 91 days or more from departure: Deposit is retained
  • 90-61 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost is non refundable
  • 60-31 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost is non refundable
  • 30 days or less prior to departure: 100% of trip cost is non-refundable

*To qualify for free cancellation within 2 weeks of deposit, deposit must be made 180 days or more prior to departure.

Any cancellation charges incurred from other suppliers or vendors (flight, lodging, ground transportation, tickets, etc.) may come in addition to the administrative fees listed here. All group flight airline tickets, optional excursions, trip options, pre/post extensions, private transfers, and additional hotel nights are non-refundable 100 days or less prior to departure unless otherwise noted.

A minimum of 10 pilgrims are required to operate the Loreto extension.

Loreto Extension Hotels:

Loreto Extension Package Includes:

  • 2 additional nights lodging
  • Local, licensed tour guide(s)
    • Day 9: Guided walking tour of Loreto City Center
    • Day 10: Guided tour of the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto
  • Transportation on private motorcoach
  • Accommodations in double-occupancy rooms (single rooms available on a limited basis)
  • Meals as indicated on itinerary
  • Gratutities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), hotel staff, and meals
  • Opportunity for daily Mass
  • Tickets for included activities

Important Information for Pilgrims Seeking to be Matched With A Roommate

  1. Pilgrims who register by themselves can indicate in their Pilgrim Portal that they would like to be matched with a roommate. Verso Ministries will make every effort to accommodate that request, however, cannot guarantee that this will be possible.
  2. If, by 90 days prior to departure, Verso has not been able to match a solo pilgrim with a roommate, the single room supplement will be applied to the pilgrim’s invoice and due for payment.
  3. If Verso is able to match a pilgrim with a roommate after they have paid the single room supplement, the pilgrim will be refunded the extra charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Verso Ministries prepare me for my journey?

We know from experience that preparing for a journey is just as important as the journey itself. From pre-departure spiritual formation emails and webinars hosted by the Verso trip leader, to providing you with a pilgrim kit to bring with you on your journey, we accompany you through the entire process – before, during, and after the pilgrimage – to prepare your mind and heart for what you’ll encounter. And of course, we’re always available by phone or email to answer and assist with any questions you might have.
Read More

Should I purchase travel protection?

We recommend that all pilgrims consider purchasing travel protection. We partner with Travel Insured International (TII) to offer travel protection.  According to TII, travel protection helps protect you and those you are traveling with from unforeseen emergencies, which always seem to happen at the worst possible time. In the event of emergencies, both before and during your travels, as well other circumstances, like travel delay, lost baggage, missed connection(s), and much more, travel protection can help. Upon registration you will receive a travel protection quotation from TII. If you have any questions regarding your quotation, please call TII. If you need an updated or new quotation, please contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at 574-383-9396.
Read More

Why should I register now?

The sooner you register for the pilgrimage, the better! Pilgrimages can fill up quickly, especially if pilgrims decide to bulk register as a group, so registering as soon as you think you will be able to travel with us guarantees you a spot on open pilgrimages. If you register and find out you can no longer attend, as long as you registered more than 180 days prior to the departure and cancel within 14-days of registering, we will fully refund your deposit. Just send us a written confirmation of your cancellation and we will take care of the rest.
Read More

Resources

Discover helpful guides and tips to prepare for your pilgrimage and enrich your journey with Verso Ministries.

A couple walking down a street in Rome.

How to Prepare for Your Trip to Rome

7 Reasons to Go on Catholic Pilgrimage

Finding the Saints in Rome

What Our Pilgrims Have to Say

Father Kuhn

Jocelyn

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