The Pillar Pilgrimage

Great Catholic Conversations in Rome With JD and Ed

December 2-10, 2025

About

This isn’t your typical Rome itinerary – it’s a one-of-a-kind pilgrimage with Verso Ministries curated just for Pillar readers (in a good way). From off the beaten path sites to titular churches of some papabili, with daily Mass and Catholic guides, this pilgrimage will remind us that despite the news, the Church is still good, true, and beautiful. With a few surprises along the way and the recording of a live show, you haven’t seen Rome until you’ve seen Rome with JD and Ed.

Trip Details

Group Type

Open to All, Hosted by The Pillar

Length

9 days, 8 nights

Accommodations

Standard

Cost

As low as

$3,991

Deposit:

$500

What's Included

All tickets for included activities listed on itinerary
Accommodations in double-occupancy rooms
Daily Mass and visits to Rome's hidden gems
Licensed, local tour escort and Catholic guides
Attendance at a live Pillar Podcast recording
Verso preparation and follow-up resources
Tours by JD & Ed from The Pillar and Joan Watson, Pillar Super-Friend
Exclusive presentation by Liz Lev
Verso Pilgrimage Director
Breakfast daily at hotel, 1 lunch, 5 dinners
Audio headsets
Transportation on private motorcoach (Days 5 and 6)

Itinerary

December 2
Depart U.S.
  • Depart U.S (flights not included in the package)
December 3
Arrive in Rome, Sant'Egidio, Trastevere
  • Arrive in Rome
  • Transfer to the hotel by taxi or public transportation (airport transfer not included)
  • The pilgrimage begins at 3:00 PM in the hotel lobby
  • Opening Mass at Sant’Egidio, titular church of Cardinal Zuppi and home of the Community of Sant’Egidio
  • After Mass, visit to Santa Maria in Trastevere and Santa Cecilia (time permitting)
  • Welcome Dinner at a restaurant in Trastevere
  • Overnight in Rome
  • Accommodations: Starhotels Michelangelo
  • Meals included: Dinner
December 4
St. Peter's Basilica
  • Morning Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by free time in the Basilica
  • Tour of St. Peter’s with a NAC Seminarian
  • Lunch on your own
  • Afternoon Scavi Tour at St. Peter’s (pending availability)
  • Dinner in a local restaurant
  • Live Podcast Recording at a local restaurant or pub in Rome
  • Overnight in Rome
  • Accommodations: Starhotels Michelangelo
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
December 5
City Center
  • Mass and visit at the Venerable English College
  • Tour of the Cancelleria
  • Walking tour of center city led by Group Leaders, ending at Gammarellis/Liturgical Row
  • Group lunch in center city
  • Free late afternoon and evening to explore Rome with dinner on your own
  • Overnight in Rome
  • Accommodations: Starhotels Michelangelo
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
December 6
St. John Lateran, Scala Santa, San Clemente, Santa Maria Nuova
  • Morning visits to St. John Lateran, Scala Santa, and San Clemente
  • Mass at Santa Maria Nuova, the resting place of St. Frances of Rome and the titular of Cardinal Péter Erdő
  • Lunch on your own, followed by free time in the late afternoon and evening
  • Overnight in Rome
  • Accommodations: Starhotels Michelangelo
  • Meals included: Breakfast
December 7
Catacombs, St. Mary Major, and More
  • Morning Visit to St. Agnes Outside the Walls
  • Mass at the Catacombs of Priscilla
  • Time for lunch on your own
  • Afternoon visits to St. Mary Major, Santa Prassede, Santi Silvestro e Martino ai Monti (the crypt is the excavations of the first church, where the Nicene Creed was publicly proclaimed for the first time in Rome post-Council), and San Pietro in Vincoli
  • Group dinner in a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Rome
  • Accommodations: Starhotels Michelangelo
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
December 8
Sant'Onofrio al Gianicolo, NAC, Propaganda Fide Museum
  • Morning Mass at Sant’Onofrio al Gianicolo, titular Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa
  • Visit to the Urbaniana and/or NAC
  • Time for lunch on your own
  • Afternoon visit to Propaganda Fide Museum (pending opening)
  • Visit to San Andrea della Fratte with altar of Our Lady of the Miracle
  • Group dinner in a local restaurant
  • Accommodations: Starhotels Michelangelo
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
December 9
Vatican Museums, San Lorenzo in Lucina
  • Morning lecture on the Sistine Chapel by Liz Lev, followed by an entrance to the Vatican Museums
  • Afternoon free
  • Early evening Mass at San Lorenzo in Lucina, titular of Cardinal Gaspari
  • Farewell dinner in a local restaurant
  • Accommodations: Starhotels Michelangelo
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
December 10
Departure
  • Breakfast at hotel
  • Transfer to the airport by taxi or public transportation (airport transfer not included)
  • Depart Rome
  • Meals included: Breakfast

Led by

Group LeaderGroup Leader
JD Flynn, The Pillar
JD Flynn
Editor-in-Chief & Co-Founder of The Pillar

Before co-founding The Pillar, JD Flynn was editor-in-chief of Catholic News Agency. Before that, he was chancellor of the Archdiocese of Denver, and a senior advisor to Bishop James Conley in the Diocese of Lincoln. He has an MA in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and a JCL in canon law from the Catholic University of America.

JD is a member of the College of Fellows at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, has served a consultor to the USCCB, and is published in the Washington Post, the New York Post, First Things, The Lamp, National Review, and in various Catholic publications.

Ed Condon, The Pillar
Ed Condon
Editor & Co-Founder of The Pillar

Before co-founding The Pillar, Ed Condon worked as the DC editor of the Catholic News Agency and was an associate editor of the Catholic Herald. His journalistic work has appeared in publications including the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, National Review, the Washington Examiner, the Spectator, the Bulwark, First Things, as well as several academic and legal journals.

Ed is also a practicing canon lawyer, having worked in dioceses across three continents and the Holy See. Previously he spent nearly ten years working in professional politics in the United Kingdom.

Pricing

As low as

$3,991

Package Cost

$3,991

Optional Add-ons

Single room supplement
$1,242/person
Gratuities for guide, drivers, hotels, and meals
$95/person
Travel protection
Quote available upon registration*

Pricing listed per person in double-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 30 full-paying pilgrims.

  • Roundtrip airfare (groups of 10 or more can schedule an optional group flight – pricing available 10 months prior to departure)
  • Airport transfers to/from U.S. departure city
  • Airport transfers in Rome
  • Passport, visa, or luggage fees
  • Gratuities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), hotel staff, and meals (optional add on)
  • 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

Designated arrival and departure times

  • Arrival information
    • Arrive by: December 3, 2025
    • Arrival time: Arrive by 12:00 p.m.
    • Arrival airport: Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO)
    • Arrival transfer: Transfer to the hotel via taxi or public transportation.
  • Departure information
    • Depart on: December 10, 2025
    • Departure time: Depart any time after 8 A.M.
    • Departure airport: Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO)
    • Departure transfer: Transfer to the hotel via taxi or public transportation.

Want help arranging your flights?

Payment Schedule

  • Deposit due upon registration – $500/person
  • 180 days prior to departure – $1,000/person
  • 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 2024. 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.

  • Within 2 weeks of deposit: Free cancellation*
  • After deposit & 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.

FAQ

Click here to learn more about the Jubilee Year and why Jubilee pilgrimages are important in the life of the Church. Additionally, check out our Pilgrim Support Center for answers to more frequently asked questions!

The sooner you register for the pilgrimage, the better! Not only does registering early guarantee you a spot on the pilgrimage before the departure fills up, but you don’t want to miss out on available discounts, including the early bird savings (see “Trip Savings” in the Pricing section above more details). Also, there is no risk for 14-days after you register should you then have to cancel (must register 180 days or more prior to departure). So let’s say you register for a pilgrimage, but then realize you can no longer attend, as long as you cancel your pilgrimage within 14-days of registering and registered more than 180s days prior to the departure, then we will fully refund your deposit no questions asked. Just send us a written confirmation of your cancellation and we will take care of the rest. Plus, the sooner you register the sooner your journey begins. Register today!

There is no risk! Your deposit will be fully refunded as long as you cancel within 14-days of registering and you have registered more than 180 days or more prior to departure. With no risk, why wait? Get registered today!

Registration closes when the pilgrimage reaches the maximum number of pilgrims. If the pilgrimage is filled when you register, you will be added to our waiting list, and contacted in the event that space on the pilgrimage becomes available. Don’t miss your chance, register now and begin your journey.

We highly recommend that all pilgrims buy travel protection. Travel protection is not only for peace of mind, but 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. If you have any questions regarding your quotation, please call the issuing company. If you need an updated or new quotation, please contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at 574-383-9396. We are happy to help!

Including optional add-ons with your pilgrimage can really add to your experience whether it is one of the optional extension or arranging an extra night stay beforehand so you are rested when the pilgrimage begins. If you would to add on any optional arrangements, as listed above, please email us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at 574-383-9396.

A pilgrimage, at its simplest, is a trip of faith. Which means a pilgrimage can be anything from a walk around your city to an encounter of Jesus in the Holy Land. For Catholics, it’s a trip of faith that people have been taking for hundreds or even thousands of years, many times in the same exact places you can visit today. It’s an opportunity to experience the spots God has made his presence known most in time and space, whether that’s where Jesus walked, where Mary appeared, or where the saints have lived and worked.

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 everything from the holy sites, to the meals, to daily Mass, to your fellow pilgrims are ways God can speak to you, which means we’re intentional about it all. We also believe a pilgrimage isn’t just the days you travel, it’s how you prepare from the moment you sign up, to the days and weeks after you arrive home. Which means it’s our intention to shepherd you through the entire process — before, during, and after — so you can have the best, most transformative experience possible. We’re not just travel experts, we’re experts in Catholic pilgrimage.

We know from experience that preparing for a journey is just as important as the journey itself. Our goal is to make sure you’re physically, logistically, and spiritually ready for your pilgrimage. You’ll receive essential emails that will walk you through the process and give you ways to prepare your mind and heart for what you’ll encounter. A pre-trip webinar will make sure you are in touch with the Verso leader of the trip, can get trip-specific info, and can ask questions. We’ll send you a pilgrim kit that contains a comprehensive booklet for your trip along with some Verso swag (such as a bag, pen, and sticker) that you can bring along with you on your pilgrimage. And of course, we’re always available by phone or email if you have any questions or special needs.

Have a Question?

×
×

Cart

Activity Level

Easy
This trip’s activity level is easy. It’s recommended that travelers be in good health to enjoy this itinerary and be able to walk and climb stairs on their own. Trips at this activity level may include half or full-day itineraries with 1-3 hours of leisurely walking per day on smooth or slightly inclined terrain. The pace is more relaxed, with opportunities to rest throughout the day.

Moderate
This trip’s activity level is moderate. Travelers must be in good health and be in good physical condition to enjoy this itinerary. Travelers must be able to walk and climb stairs on their own. Trips at this activity level may include full-day itineraries of 3-5 hours of walking at a normal to brisk pace per day on varied terrain including uneven surfaces, stairs, and hills. The pace is faster and more demanding, with some breaks throughout the day.

Difficult
This trip’s activity level is difficult. Travelers must be in good health and physically fit to enjoy this itinerary. Trips at this activity level may include full-day itineraries with up to 5-7 hours of walking at normal to brisk pace per day on varied terrain including uneven surfaces, stairs, and steep hills. The pace is vigorous and demanding, with little down time each day.

Accommodation Level

Simple
For the duration of your trip, enjoy a range of lodging accommodations — from quaint guesthouses to simple-styled hotels. Discover a newfound appreciation for each of these locations which often have a unique character of their own. With your private bathroom and sleeping quarters, these locations will provide you with a clean, comfortable, and cozy place to settle into during your journey.

Standard
Venues at this level will provide you with the best accommodations at a reasonable cost. Not only will you have access to modern amenities and services, but special care is taken to ensure hotels are located in close proximity to the area’s local attractions. Expect your stay at this level to provide you with an added feeling of comfortability and convenience as you experience your pilgrimage.

Premium
Your stay at the premium level will ensure that your travel involves the opportunity to experience some of the most unique and luxurious stays that a destination has to offer. You’ll find that traveling at this level will afford you the opportunity to optimize your experience at each spot. From fine dining to scenic views, anticipate that your pilgrimage will provide you with breathtaking experiences no other location could provide.

How will I know what my stay will be like?
Each of our pilgrimage locations come with their own unique accommodations. From simple to luxurious, you can know that the care and satisfaction of each pilgrim is our greatest priority. While specific amenities will vary, we are sure that each of these handpicked locations will leave you rested, rejuvenated, and ready for each day.

Attend our next Webinar!

Sign up to recieve information about upcoming and on-demand webinars.