Griz Catholic Italy Pilgrimage – May 2026

Pilgrimage to Italy

Trip Date:
May 11, 2026
- May 21, 2026
Group Type
Private
Activity Level
Moderate
Price
From $2,800
Deposit $300
Hosted by
Griz Catholic

Trip Overview

Discover the heart of the universal Church on this handcrafted pilgrimage to Italy with Griz Catholic at the University of Montana. Encounter God’s majesty in the beautiful Roman basilicas, pray at the tombs of monumental saints, and walk through the remains of Ancient Rome. Through prayer in the world’s most iconic churches, and immersion into all the beauty and culture Italy has to offer, this pilgrimage will inspire you to marvel at the work God has done through the church and draw you into deeper relationship with Christ.

What’s Included?

  • Local, licensed tour guide(s)
  • Metro passes while in Rome and train tickets to and from Assisi
  • Accommodations in double, triple, and quad-occupancy rooms (single rooms available on a limited basis)
  • Meals as indicated on itinerary
  • Opportunity for daily Mass
  • Tickets for included activities
  • Verso pilgrimage booklets and pilgrim kits
  • Preparation and follow-up materials
  • Promotional kit and pilgrim registration support
  • Pack & Prep Meeting for all pilgrims to review itinerary, activities, logistical arrangements, and spiritual preparations

Itinerary

May 11, 2026
  • Depart the U.S. on your overnight flight to Rome
May 12, 2026
  • Arrive at Rome airport and self-transfer to the hotel
  • Opening Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, home of the relic of the Bethlehem Manger and the tomb of Pope Francis
  • Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Casa per Ferie Suore Teatine or similar 3*

Meals included: Dinner

May 13, 2026
  • Attend the Papal Audience (pending the Holy Father’s schedule)
  • Time for lunch
  • Entrance to the Vatican Museums, home of the Sistine Chapel
  • Mass at a local church
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Casa per Ferie Suore Teatine or similar 3*

Meals included: Breakfast

May 14, 2026
  • Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the churches and piazzas of central Rome
    • Stops can include Chiesa Nuova, the Gesu and the rooms of St Ignatius, the Pantheon, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, and others
  • After lunch, visit the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian followed by Mass in the Basilica of St Sebastian Outside the Walls
  • Stop at the Church of Domine Quo Vadis
  • Continue on to St Paul the Outside the Walls for a tour with a NAC seminarian (group to arrange)
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Casa per Ferie Suore Teatine or similar 3*

Meals included: Breakfast

May 15, 2026
  • Mass in the Crypt at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by a tour of the Basilica by a NAC seminarian (group to arrange tour), including time to pray at the tomb of Pope St. John Paul II and to see Michelangelo’s Pieta
  • Scavi Tour (pending availability)
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Casa per Ferie Suore Teatine or similar 3*

Meals included: Breakfast

May 16, 2026
  • Start the day 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
  • Prayerfully climb the Scala Santa, the Holy Stairs that Christ climbed on his way to his trial, brought to Rome from Jerusalem by St. Helena
  • Visit the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and venerate the relics from Christ’s Passion
  • Time for lunch on your own
  • Mass at the Basilica of San Clemente and tour the excavations
  • Visit Santa Maria in Aracoeli
  • Free time for the rest of the evening
    • Consider taking in the sights of Ancient Rome by walking past the Colosseum and Roman Forum
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Casa per Ferie Suore Teatine or similar 3*

Meals included: Breakfast

May 17, 2026
  • Morning Mass at a local church
  • Attend the Papal Angelus in St Peter’s Square (pending the Holy Father’s availability)
  • Free final day in Rome
  • Tour and Vespers at the North American Seminary (group to arrange)
  • Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Casa per Ferie Suore Teatine or similar 3*

Meals included: Breakfast

May 18, 2026
  • Take the train to Assisi
  • Self-guided tour of the Old City of Assisi, including the Basilica of St. Francis and Basilica of St. Clare, where the San Damiano Crucifix is held along with the tomb of St Clare
  • Mass at the Basilica of St Francis
  • Free time in Assisi to explore the peaceful medieval town and visit Santa Maria Maggiore and the tomb of Saint Carlo Acutis, San Damiano Monastery, the Cathedral of San Rufino, Chiesa Nuova, or the fortress of Rocca Maggiore
  • Overnight in Assisi

Accommodations: Monastero Santa Colette or similar 3*

Meals included: Breakfast

May 19, 2026
  • Hike up to the Hermitage on Monte Subasio, about 4km outside of Assisi, a peaceful retreat favored by St Francis
  • Celebrate Mass at the Hermitage (pending availability)
  • Overnight in Assisi

Accommodations: Monastero Santa Colette or similar 3*

Meals included: Breakfast

May 20, 2026
  • Take the train back to Rome
  • Depending on arrival time, enjoy the rest of your time in Rome with free time
  • Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Rome by the train station

Accommodations: Hotel San Marco or similar 3*

Meals included: Breakfast

May 21, 2026
  • Self-transfer to Rome airport and depart on your journey home

Meals included: Breakfast

Pricing

Package Cost
$2,800

Optional Add-ons

Travel Protection
Quote provided after registration*
Single Room Supplement
$759/person

*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.

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

Rates assume a minimum of 20 full-paying pilgrims.

Led by

Group Leader
Brett Rotz
Bozeman, Montana
Brett, a native of Rathdrum, Idaho, has a Theology and International Relations degree from Carroll College and a Philosophy Certificate from St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. He has been completing an STB from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome during the past two years. Brett has led pilgrimages in Rome, Assisi, and on the Camino de Santiago. This past year, he has been the Director of Campus Ministry for Griz Catholic at the University of Montana.
Chaplain
Fr. Kirby Longo
Bozeman, Montana
Fr. Kirby Longo was born in Billings, Montana. He was ordained in 2017 and spent three years in Butte, Montana as the Parochial Vicar at St. Ann’s and Holy Spirit as well as Chaplain of Butte Central Catholic Schools. For the past six years, he has been the pastor of Christ the King Parish as well as Chaplain of Griz Catholic campus ministry for the University of Montana. He is also pastor of St. John the Baptist in Frenchtown, St. Alberts in Alberton, St. Michael’s in Drummond and St. Philip’s in Philipsburg.

Flights

Pilgrims are responsible for booking their own flights to/from the pilgrimage using the information below regarding airports and designated arrival/departure times.

  • Arrive by: May 12th, 2026
  • Arrival time: At or before 2 P.M.
  • Arrival airport: Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
  • Depart on: May 21st, 2026
  • Departure time: Anytime
  • Departure airport: Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
  • Transfer to the hotel/airport via taxi or public transit

More Details

  • Roundtrip group flight
  • Gratuities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), hotel staff, and meals (optional add on)
  • Verso Pilgrimage Director (included if group is 30+ pilgrims)
  • Passport, visa, or luggage fees
  • Any personal purchases
  • Any meals not indicated on itinerary
  • Any required COVID tests or vaccinations
  • Recommended travel protection with Cancel for Any Reason coverage
  • Anything else not explicitly mentioned as included

Payment Schedule

  • Deposit due upon registration – $300/person
  • January 11, 2026 – 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 November 2025. 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. Individual pilgrims should cancel with their group leaders, who are then responsible for notifying Verso Ministries in writing (email or letter). 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.

  • 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

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
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Who can I contact for more information?

Our team is eager to help and is available 9am-5pm EST by phone at 574-383-9396 or by email at hello@versoministries.com
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Who would I be traveling with on pilgrimage?

If a pilgrimage is open to all, registration is open to any pilgrim wishing to participate. As such, our groups welcome a diverse range of pilgrims, from families and married couples to single travellers and retired adults, giving you the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
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Why should I travel with Verso Ministries?

At Verso, we believe in crafting pilgrimages that offer you a view of God’s world and his work in it that you can’t get anywhere else.    We believe that everything – from the holy sites, to the meals, to daily Mass, to your fellow pilgrims – shape the ways God can speak to you, which means we’re intentional about it all.  We believe a pilgrimage isn’t just the days you travel, but it’s how you prepare – from the moment you sign up, to the days and weeks after you arrive home. We shepherd you through the entire process so you can achieve the most transformative experience possible.  We’re not just travel experts; we’re experts in Catholic pilgrimage.
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Resources

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

A picture of the cieling of St. Peter's Basilica.

Finding the Saints in Rome

In Via: Journey Through Rome’s Station Churches

A couple walking down a street in Rome.

How to Prepare for Your Trip to Rome

What Our Pilgrims Have to Say

Father Kuhn

Jocelyn

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