About this trip
“Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy!” (Luke 2:10)
Join us for an extraordinary journey to Rome for the coinciding of two great celebrations: Christmas, and the opening of the Jubilee year! It will be an extraordinarily joyful time to be in the places where St. Paul, St. Peter and St. John Paul II walked and bore their witness to the Gospel!
Christmas is a wonderful time to be in Rome. The entire city seems to light up with an unusual joy, and there is even more peace throughout the city than usual. Little red and white lights flicker on kiosks set up in the lovely Piazza Navona, and the Vatican erects a larger-than-life manger scene in St. Peter’s Square, right next to the ancient obelisk at its center.
"In his mercy, he never tires of stretching out his hand to lift us up, to encourage us to continue our journey, to come back and tell him of our weakness, so that he can grant us his strength.”
— Pope Francis
But there will be a special jubilance in the air this Christmas, because it will coincide with the solemn opening of the Holy Door of the Jubilee Year 2025 in St. Peter’s; the last time it was opened was to mark the beginning of the Holy Year of Mercy, called by Pope Francis in 2015. It symbolizes the Church’s opening of the floodgates of mercy; the Church even offers an indulgence to those who pass through it, calling all people to repentance and to a new life of grace.
As we make our unique Christmastime pilgrimage on the eve of the Jubilee Year, the feast of the Nativity of Christ will hold an even more vivid meaning for us as we contemplate not only His birth, but the coming of His grace, mercy and forgiveness, into the world.
“The Nativity is a feast of confidence and hope, that overcomes uncertainty and pessimism.” — Pope Francis
Throughout Italy, every church constructs a presepio (or presepe) — a Nativity tableau which may even include “living” crèche scenes with real people and animals — ranging from charmingly simple to stunningly elaborate. Some include hills, trees, lakes, rivers, angels suspended by wires, the Christmas star and reproductions of an entire village or the countryside of Bethlehem. Always, the straw-filled manger remains empty until the night of Natale — the birth of Christ.
Christmas time is also a lovely time to visit Florence, the city of art, history and faith. It’s the season of the city’s Festival of Lights, lively Christmas markets and a life-size nativity in front of Florence’s magnificent cathedral, the Duomo, and we’ll have the best guide in Florence to help us explore its wonders.
Added to all this is the irreplaceable wealth of experience and insight of your pilgrimage hosts, Deborah Tomlinson – the president of Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages, and Dr. Robert Moynihan – the founder and editor of Inside the Vatican magazine, and the unique beauty and grace each of your fellow pilgrims will bring to your journey. It may well be your most unforgettable Christmas!
Highlights of our Christmas 2024 Pilgrimage:
- Attend Christmas Eve Mass with Pope Francis and witness the opening of the Holy Door
- Walk through the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica
- Visit all the major Basilicas of Rome: Basilica of St. Peter, Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, and Basilica of St. Mary Major
- Visit the only two Marian apparition sites in Rome
- Visit the only Eucharistic Miracle in Rome
- Take a day trip to Florence via fast train and stroll the Florentine streets with one of Florence’s best guides
- Take part in special visits inside the Vatican itself (pending availability)
- Venerate the holy icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Tour the Catacombs of Callixtus
- Attend the Angelus and the Urbi et Orbi Christmas Blessing with Pope Francis
- Attend daily Mass including a private Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass with Pope Francis
- Attend a special Christmas Concert in Rome
- Visit the “first” Vatican, where St. Peter himself lived for seven years
- Meet friends of Inside the Vatican magazine during our days together on pilgrimage
- Deborah Tomlinson, the President of Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages, will lead this pilgrimage
- Dr. Robert Moynihan, the founder and editor of Inside the Vatican magazine, will join us for dinners and several days of pilgrimage
- Plus many unexpected stops and encounters along the way
Travel Information
Participants are responsible for arranging and paying for their own air travel for the Italy Christmas 2024 pilgrimage.
Arrival Information (Individual):
- Airport: Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
- Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024 (Day 1 of the pilgrimage)
- Time: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Local Time)
- Transfer: Individual transfer from the airport to the hotel in Rome
We recommend arriving one day early, on Friday, December 20, 2024, to allow for rest and more flexibility with flight options. If you choose to arrive early, please contact our office for assistance with booking the recommended early arrival hotel.
If you stay at the recommended early arrival hotel, we will provide a transfer from the airport directly to that hotel.
If you decide to stay at a different hotel, we will arrange a transfer from your chosen hotel to the designated hotel where the pilgrimage starts on Day 1.
Departure Information (Individual):
- Airport: Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
- Date: Saturday, December 28, 2024 (Day 8 of the pilgrimage)
- Time: After 10:00 AM (Local Time)
- Transfer: Individual transfer to the airport at 7:00 AM
Recommended Travel Agency:
For booking flights, Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages recommends using Gulliver's Travel. Cindy McCoy, an experienced travel agent at Gulliver's Travel, will handle your airline reservations and then forward them to our office, making the process seamless for you!
- Travel Agent: Cindy McCoy
- Email: cindy@gullivers.com
- Phone: +1.817.924.7766
Contact Information:
For any other questions, please call the U.S. Office: +1.202.536.4555
Why Choose ITV Pilgrimages?
With more than 30 years of publishing Inside the Vatican magazine, we have colleagues and friends all over the world — and many of them have become part of our Pilgrimage family.
Designing an Inside the Vatican pilgrimage begins with a theme or a particular country; then we weave in encounters with real people who live and work there, as well as those with expert knowledge in its historical and spiritual perspectives. Each day we will have the opportunity to attend Mass.
Our itineraries include both world-renowned and little-known places, and every detail has been arranged to create a truly unique experience; we do not have cookie-cutter pilgrimages. And our pilgrims appreciate the fact that we never exceed 33 pilgrims. For our custom pilgrimages, we may exceed 33 pilgrims only at the client's request.
Crafting an Inside the Vatican Pilgrimage is about knowing firsthand what makes a place extraordinary, knowing personally the people involved, understanding how best to experience it and then finessing the countless details, moments and encounters both planned and spontaneous. Our thoughtful trip design, flexible pace and local connections are just a few of the reasons why our pilgrims often return to join us again for other pilgrimages.
Whether you choose one of our intimate-sized Signature Pilgrimages, or Classic Pilgrimages with budget-friendly pricing, we work hard to ensure that every pilgrimage is a moving experience and an authentic spiritual journey for each pilgrim.
Questions or Booking Assistance
Call our U.S. Office: +1.202.536.4555 Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET. If you call after hours, leave a message. You can email our office: Pilgrimages@InsideTheVatican.com or send us a WhatsApp message: +1.540.631.4392
Terms and Conditions
Before you book your trip with us, please read carefully our Terms and Conditions
Discount Codes
Call us to inquire about any applicable discounts: U.S. Office +1 202.536.4555 Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET. You can email our office: or send us a WhatsApp message: +1.540.631.4392
What’s included
- MealsSeven (7) breakfasts, four (4) lunches and five (5) dinners are included: not prix fixe – you always order off the menu at your pleasure! Wine served with meals
- Hotel AccommodationsSeven (7) nights in a hotel steps from the Vatican
- Private Motor CoachPrivate, first-class motor coach bus
- Taxes and FeesAll local taxes are included
- Entrance FeesAll entrance fees all included
- Arrival TransfersPrivate transfer from the airport upon arrival are included
- Departure TransfersPrivate transfer to the airport upon departure are included according to departure information above
- GratuitiesGratuities included, but additional gratuities are always welcome.
- Train TicketFirst Class train ticket – Rome to/from Florence
What’s not included
- AirfareAirfare to and from Italy
- MealsMeals not specifically identified: two (2) lunches and two (2) dinners
- Other Personal ExpensesOther personal expenses, included but not limited to laundry services, minibar in hotel rooms, et cetera
- OtherItems not specifically mentioned in the pilgrimage description
Available Packages
The listed price is per person, based on double room occupancy (2 people sharing one room). If you are paying for both people staying in the double room, select a quantity of "2" to add both names to the reservation.
Airfare is not included in the price
Price is per person for a single occupancy room. Airfare is not included.
Itinerary
After you arrive in Rome, our private drivers will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel for the next 7 nights – only a 5-minute walk to St. Peter's Piazza! In the late afternoon, we will gather for our first Mass together in the Basilica of St. Peter, then enjoy a wonderful Italian dinner at one of our favorite restaurants where you order what you would like – no pre-selected meals!
Dinner Included.