Jubilee of Hope Pilgrimage: Rome and Assisi
- Malachy McDaid
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
On the very early morning of September 29th 2025, 50 pilgrims from all corners of
Ireland gathered in Dublin Airport to board an Aer Lingus flight to Rome as part of the
Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope for the Order of Saint Columbanus’ to Rome and Assisi.
Each visitor arrived with their own hopes and concerns to pray in the largest church in
the world and the spiritual centre of our Catholic Church, the Vatican in Rome's and
follow in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare, and Saint Carlo Acutis. Little did
we realise how this week would test and bless us, fostering our spiritual growth.
At the end of the seven-day pilgrimage, each pilgrim knew each other's first names – the
camaraderie and brotherhood that existed was unmatched, and we all looked out for
one another.
Once we had collected our bags in Rome Airport, we met our tour guide, Mirella, who
was our infinite source of knowledge on each Holy shrine we visited. Our first stop was
the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where we paused before the tomb of the late Pope
Francis and said a personal prayer. We got a guided tour of the frescoes and crypt of
this Basilica, before celebrating Mass with Cardinal Seán Brady and Fr Colm Hagan in
Cesi chapel of the Basilica. We prayed before the icon of Mary – the Salus Populi
Romani, where Pope Francis prayed before and after each apostolic journey. We
entered through the Holy Door – the Porta Santa as pilgrims marking this Jubilee –
Pilgrims of Hope.
The next day, Tuesday 30th September, we travelled to Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican
City. We processed as a pilgrim group along the Via della Conciliazone, right into the
square and into Saint Peter's Basilica, through the Holy Door, several Brothers carried
the Pilgrimage of Hope Cross right to the main altar, many Brothers were spiritually
enriched carrying the Cross while praying. His Eminence Seán Cardinal Brady had
arranged for us to visit the chapel of Saint Columbanus, below the Altar in the Grottoes
of St. Peters Basilica. While there, we prayed for the intercession of Saint Columbanus,
Pope Saint Paul VI and Saint Oliver Plunkett. We prayed for the Canonisation of
Venerable Matt Talbot and Canon James Kearney O’Neill. A tour guide took us all
around the magnificent Basilica, giving us ample time to see as much as we could. We
prayed in front of the tomb of Pope Saint John Paul II and Pope Saint John XXIII.After Saint Peter's Basilica, we travelled to the Catacombs of San Callisto, which at one
time was the burial place for some 300 thousand people who were not permitted to be
buried within the city walls of Rome. In the chapel beside the entrance to the
catacombs, we celebrated Mass and Cardinal Brady reminded us that for early
Christians, catacombs were sacred because they symbolized Hope in eternal life and
the future resurrection of the body, rejecting pagan views of death as final. The
catacombs was the final resting place of a number of Popes and persecuted Christians
alike.
Wednesday morning, all the knights wore the order's tie in respect to the Holy Father,
with whom we were going to join, at the Papal Audience. It was a bit frantic dealing with
the crowds and security, but thanks again to our Cardinal, we got seated tickets, near
enough to see Pope Leo XIV. It’s a moment in time that one sees on EWTN and at Urbi et
Orbi televised, but seeing him in person at Saint Peter's was very special.
Then onto the Basilica of St Paul outside the Walls, where we once again entered
through the Holy Door. A magnificent basilica which was built over the tomb of St Paul,
and where we could leave petitions and view the resting place of St Paul. Again, in
these amazing surroundings, we celebrated Holy Mass in one of the side chapels.
The next morning, through the recommendation of Cardinal Brady, we visited the
Lateran Baptistery, standing apart from The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. The
baptistry, for many generations was the first and the only baptistery in Rome, previousto this, rivers or streams were used. It was also here, that a couple from our pilgrim
group, who were married by the then Fr Brady 50 years ago, received a special blessing
from His Eminence and they renewed their marriage vows.
We then went on to the Basilica of St John Lateran, the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome,
who is His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV . Cardinal Brady stated that he was ordained here 61
years ago. A breathtaking Basilica of frescoes and artwork, our pilgrim group were
allowed access to the Cathedral of Rome, where we prayed a decade of the Rosary. This
year, with the election of our new pope, Pope Leo XIV, the day concluded with
enthronement in this Cathedral. The pontiff journeys from Saint Peter’s in procession,
and is seated on the Cathedral, as the Bishop of Rome, surrounded by all the clergy of
Rome, who pray for him and applaud him.
From the Basilica, we went to the Holy Stairs – these were brought to Rome from
Jerusalem by Queen Helena in 328- She was the mother of Constantine, and these
steps are believed to be the original steps that our Lord climbed before his crucifixion in
Pontius Pilate's palace in Jerusalem. It was a humbling and an emotional moment to
see all the pilgrims on their knees going up the steps, as an act of sacrifice and
penance.Fr Paul Lawlor OP and Fr Ronan greeted us at the Dominican Saint Clement's Basilica,
viewing the frescoes and exploring the depths, a three-tiered complex of buildings: The
first level is the present basilica built just before the year 1100 during the height of
the Middle Ages; we descended the stairs going beneath the present basilica, to a 4th-
century basilica that had been converted out of the home of a Roman nobleman. Seeing
this 1st-century structure made us reflect on the history of Christianity and how, the
first Church building, as Fr Paul stated, “you can't argue with bricks and mortar”
.
From there, we walked to the Irish Pontifical College, where we learned about the many
priests who studied there and spread the Gospel throughout Ireland and beyond.
Cardinal Brady and Fr. Colm again celebrated the Holy Mass and spoke of how we must
be like little children and live in the moment at hand. At a reception after Mass, Cardinal
Brady took us to the Daniel O’Connell monument, where the heart of the emancipator is
entombed.On Friday 3rd October , we celebrated Holy Mass in the
Church of St Isidore with its wonderful frescoes and
chapels. We received a very informative talk from one of
the friars there, who outlined the history and is now the
headquarters of the Franciscan Order, the General Curia
in Rome. Then we walked to the Spanish Steps and Trevi
fountain, to view their architectural beauty, observe their
role as a historic and current cultural gathering spot.
To the bus then, and onwards to Assisi – the birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare, and
the final resting place of St. Carlo Acutis. Traffic in Rome stopped, citizens protest to
highlight the crisis of war in the Holy Land, for over 5 hours we travelled on the coach.
The next morning, we visited the Basilica of St Clare and prayed before the Cross of San
Damiano, where our Lord spoke to Francis, asking him to rebuild His church. We
viewed the body of St Clare and celebrated Mass in the main church. Then we walked to
the resting place of St Carlo Acutis and joined the throngs of people waiting reverently
to pass by the body of the young man who gave up material things to follow the example
of his mentor, St Francis. It was the feast day of St Francis, so there were many people
in Assisi, including the Italian PM – Giorgia Meloni, enhancing the atmosphere and
holiness of the day. As one knight remarked on looking out his hotel windows, “That’s
the same Sister Moon that St Francis and St. Clare would have gazed on.”
A walking tour of Assisi in the afternoon took us to the birthplace of Francis, and we
walked the streets he would have walked in a life of prayer and poverty. We saw where
Clare and Francis were baptised, in the Cathedral of San Rufino and the altar where the
heart of St Carlo Acutis is enshrined.
Next, we went to see the convent of San Damiano and the home of the Poor Clare
Sisters. We saw the cloister and the place where St. Clare passed away.We went to the Basilica of St Francis and saw the final resting place of this great saint.
Cardinal Seán Brady, a bishop from New Jersey, along with 14 priests and altar servers,
concelebrated Mass, and the Supreme Knight read the readings. It was a special
occasion, and we all felt a little sad knowing that our pilgrimage was drawing to a close.
That evening, in the chapel at the Hotel Domus Pacis, we all gathered for exposition and
benediction of the most blessed Eucharist. We took the time to reflect on the week and
thank God for his gift of faith and prayer. Cardinal Brady led us in the rosary, and there
was a reflection between each decade. It was a solemn yet heart-warming hour and 20
minutes that we all delighted in.
The camaraderie and good-spirited attitudes of the group made this pilgrimage to Rome
and Assisi a life-changing one—time to reflect and pray for those we love and who
asked us to remember them. The recitation of the Holy Rosary on the bus and the
friendship within the group. Watching out for one another were truly uplifting.
And so we returned to Dublin very tired but spiritually renewed and treasuring in our
hearts all we had done, seen and lived the past 7 days.
