Day 1: Monday 8th August - fly to Italy via Abu Dhabi
Day 2: Tuesday 9th August - arrive Milan/Florence
On arrival into Milan this morning, the pilgrims will travel directly south to Florence. They will ascend the hill of Piazzale Michelangelo to admire the view of this amazing city.
Day 3: Wednesday 10th August - via Siena to Assisi
The day starts with a visit to the academy of Fine Arts which contains many treasures including Michelangelo's statue of David. The Pilgrims will tour the amazing Duomo whose magnificent dome was created by Brunelleschi. From here they will travel to Siena, the birthplace of St Catherine. They will also visit the Basilica of St Dominic and stroll through the Piazza del Campo before entering the Sanctuary of St Catherine. From here they will continue on to the pilgrimage centre of Assisi, where they will see where St Francis tended the poor and sick and founded the Franciscan Order.
Day 4: Thursday 11th August - Assisi Pilgrimage
Today the pilgrims will wake to the sound of chapel bells, footsteps on cobblestones and a sense of the Spirit of St Francis that is alive and well within the walls of this holy town. They will start the day with a visit to the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels on the plain where St Francis spent most of his life. They will see the Portiuncola (the thornless rose bush), the cave where St Francis returned for prayer and the Chapel where he died in 1226. From there they will travel to the Upper Town to the Church of St Clare wher they will kneel before the famous crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St Francis.
Continuing on, the pilgrims will enjoy a guided walking tour through some of the town's highlights including: Mass at the Basilica of St Francis which houses the tomb of St Francis, a visit to the Church of St Damiano which is built on the site where St Francis heard the voice of Christ speaking these words through the crucifix 'go rebuild my Church, which you see is falling down'. The tour will culminate high up at the Hermitage (Eremo Delle Carceri), an oasis of peace and tranquility in the woods, built on the site of a simple cave where St Francis often withdrew to spend many hours in prayer. The cave and chapel are preserved in the Hermitage.
The Pilgrims will then have the opportunity that evening to attend Vespers in the Church of St Clare and listen to the angelic voices of the Poor Clare nuns.
Day 5: Friday 12th August - Via Orvieto to Rome
Today sees the Pilgrims journey South to the quant Umbrian town of Orvieto, the place of the famous Eucharistic Miracle of 1263. They will then continue on to Rome where they will spend the following three nights. On arrival in Rome they will enjoy an orientation drive through the city then enjoy some much anticipated leisure time.
Day 6: Saturday 13th August - Rome Pilgrimage
After a private mass at St Peter's Basilica, the Pilgrim's visit the Basilica of St Paul outside the walls as a special tribute to the Church's greatest evangelist. They will then journey on to the ancient Catacombs for a memorable guided tour as they get the opportunity to explore these underground burial tunnels for Christians and Hebrews. From here they will travel by bus to the St Mary Major Basilica, then to the Basilica of St John in Lateran (the first Papal residence) and the adjacent Holy Stairs brought from Jerusalem to Rome in 326 AD by St Helena. The Pilgrims will be pleased to know that these stairs may only be ascended on their knees!
The tour then continues to the Basilica of Santa Croce in Jerusalem with its extraordinary collection of relics from the Holy Land inclluding a full size replica of the Shroud of Turin. The day will finish with a stop at the Colosseum, Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum.
Day 7: Sunday 14th August - Rome Pilgrimage
This morning the Pilgrims will visit the Vatican and wander the spectacular chambers and halls leading to the Sistene Chapel to view Michelangelo's masterpieces, including the magnificent fresco of the Last Judgement. They will continue through to St Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, for an informative guided tour. Here they will also have the opportunity to pray before the tomb of Pope John Paul II, located in the Grotto of the Popes underneath the Basilica.
They will then enjoy a free afternoon with the option of discovering the sights of Rome in small groups. They might visit the Pantheon or the Trevi Fountain and indulge in some Gelato at the Piazza Navona. Alternatively,
they could enjoy the opportunity to descend under the catacombs of St Peters Basilica for a Scavi Excavations tour that will leave them breathless.
Day 8: Monday 15th August - Rome to Madrid
This morning the Pilgrims are off to the airport to board their plane to Madrid where they will be staying for 7 nights. On arrival they will join the thousands of Pilgrims converging on the World Youth Day host city where they will await the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI with the youth of the world. Upon arrival in Spain the Pilgrim's will be taken to their accomodation where they will receive their WYD pilgrim's bag. For a detailed program of events for WYD 2011, visit the official World Youth Day Site
Day 9: Tuesday 16th August - Official Opening Mass of Welcome
The city of Madrid has some amazing sites and attractions and it will be alive with hundreds of thousands of young people who have come for this great event.
Days 10 - 12: Wednesday 17th - Fri 19th August - Catechesis and Youth Festival
For three days at hundreds of venues spread across the city of Madrid, small groups will gather to talk about faith and celebrate the journey which has brought them to this moment.
There will be opportunities for Catechisis in the mornings, Daily Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Youth Festival will bring music, dance and dramatic performances from around the world to small and large stadiums across the city. On Thursday afternoon, the pilgrims will welcome the Pope with a huge celebration in honour of his arrival. Friday will focus on the reality of Christ's passion and the call to true freedom as they follow the Way of the Cross.
Day 13: Saturday 20th August - Pilgimage walk to WYD Vigil
Today sees the beginning of the mass mobilization of Pilgrims to the site of World Youth Day 2011. They will follow set walking paths through the city as they converge on the huge aerodrome at Cuatro Vientos in Madrid. An afternoon of concerts, performances and song will unfold as the pilgrims await the arrival of the Holy Father.
The evening Vigil marks the beginning of World Youth Day 2011. At 8:30 in the evening, the Pope will arrive at the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome, and Eucharistic adoration will begin. An address is planned by the Holy Father. A global sleep out under the stars will follow where thousands of WYD participants will spend the night in the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome. For those who so wish, there will be several tents where they will be able to adore the Most Blessed Sacrament and celebrations will continue all night.
Day 14: Sunday 21st August - XXVI World Youth Day
The Pope will concelebrate Mass with thousands of bishops and priests, and he will address young people and those who are not so young, to send them out to the world to witness to their faith, as the Lord did with his Apostles. At the end of the conclusive Mass, the Holy Father will announce the place where the next edition of World Youth Day will be held. Then it will be time to say good-bye to new friends as the Pope sends forth the Youth to every nation of the world, taking with them his special message and blessing.
A grand finale to WYD 2011 will be a charity soccer match that will feature a friendly face-off between a select group of former Spanish soccer players and others from around the world. The match will take place at the Vicente Calderon stadium with all proceeds from the match going to charity. Attendance at the match will also assist in staggering the departure of so many from Madrid.
Day 15: Monday 22nd August - Depart Madrid
Day 16: Tuesday 23rd August - Arrive Australia
