O’Donnell and his wife, Cathy, personally organized the pilgrimage for friends and benefactors of the college in response to Pope Francis’ special granting of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. As part of the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis encouraged the faithful to make a pilgrimage to Rome and receive special graces in doing so — a call O’Donnell eagerly took up, on behalf of Christendom College.
Beginning Friday, March 4, the pilgrims will fly to Rome and begin touring such locations as Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Peter’s Basilica, the ancient catacombs, the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, and the city of Assisi. Along the way, the group will dine with Francis Cardinal Arinze, Fr. Wojciech Giertych, the theologian for the Papal Household, Sean Lovett, Director of English Programs for Vatican Radio, George Cardinal Pell, and Raymond Cardinal Burke — all friends of Christendom College and supporters of its mission.
Christendom College has had a devotion to the Holy See since its founding, sharing close connections to Pope Saint John Paul II, who said that Christendom is “doing a great work for the Church,” and Pope Benedict XVI, who was chair of the college’s 25th anniversary committee. O’Donnell is also a consultor for the Pontifical Council on the Family, a position he was appointed to by Pope St. John Paul II, which has been renewed by both Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.