Saints & Tombs Rome, Italy

Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace (Tomb of St. Josemaría Escrivá)

1975 St. Josemaría Escrivá Feast, June 26

The burial place of St. Josemaría Escrivá.

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Plan your own visit How long to stay, how to get there, what to see, and what to bring. Travel guide

What happened here

The Story

The Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace, located at Viale Bruno Buozzi 75 in Rome's Parioli district, is the central church of the Prelature of Opus Dei and the resting place of its founder, St. Josemaría Escrivá. The church forms part of Villa Tevere, the complex housing the prelature's central offices, where Escrivá lived and worked for nearly three decades. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer was born in Barbastro, Spain, in 1902 and ordained a priest in 1925. On October 2, 1928, in Madrid, he founded Opus Dei, a way within the Church dedicated to the message that ordinary work and daily life, lived with love for God, are a path to holiness. His best-known book, The Way, has been translated into dozens of languages. He moved to Rome in 1946 as the work spread internationally, and he died there on June 26, 1975. Escrivá was beatified in 1992 and canonized by St. John Paul II on October 6, 2002, before a vast crowd in St. Peter's Square; the pope called him "the saint of ordinary life." His mortal remains rest in a casket beneath the altar of Our Lady of Peace, where members of Opus Dei and other faithful come to pray. The church welcomes visitors for prayer at set times, and pilgrims to Rome — especially those drawn to Escrivá's teaching on the sanctification of everyday work and family life — regularly include the tomb in their itinerary. His feast is celebrated on June 26.

How to read this account

Church Recognition

St. Josemaría Escrivá was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II on October 6, 2002; Our Lady of Peace is the prelatic church of Opus Dei, a personal prelature erected by the Holy See in 1982.

Catholic Teaching

The site speaks to the universal call to holiness taught by the Second Vatican Council (Lumen Gentium, ch. 5; CCC 2013): ordinary work, family life, and daily duties, offered to God, become a path to sanctity, while prayer at a saint's tomb expresses the communion of saints (CCC 946-962).

Go Deeper

Visit the official Opus Dei website, opusdei.org, which includes a guide to the prelatic church. St. Josemaría's book The Way and St. John Paul II's canonization homily (2002) offer further insight into his message.

Useful before you go

Plan Your Visit

The Pilgrim’s Quick Card

Ideal stay
Half Day Allow 2-4 hours for the tomb, church, and prayer
Best months
Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct Comfortable weather and fewer peak-season crowds
Nearest airport
Rome Fiumicino (FCO) Main U.S. gateway for Rome
Language & currency
Italian · Euro (€) English availability varies; major shrines often assist
Feast day
June 26
Accessibility
Good Main worship areas are usually accessible; verify details

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Plan the trip

How Long Should I Stay? Half Day is a good target for a prayerful visit.

Half Day is a practical amount of time for Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace (Tomb of St. Josemaría Escrivá). Allow 2-4 hours for the tomb, church, and prayer.

  • Minimum: Half Day for the principal shrine or church and personal prayer.
  • Recommended: Half Day so you can include Mass, the main devotional focus, and time to explore without rushing.
  • Extended stay: Add a second day for a slower pace and nearby sacred sites.

Pilgrim Tip: Leave at least one unscheduled block for quiet prayer; pilgrimage sites often become most meaningful after the checklist is finished.

Best Time to Visit Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct usually offers the best overall balance.

Best Overall

Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct

Comfortable weather and fewer peak-season crowds.

Peak Periods

Major feast days, school holidays, summer weekends, and organized diocesan pilgrimages can bring larger crowds. Book lodging and transportation earlier if your dates overlap a major celebration.

For a Quieter Pilgrimage

Choose a weekday outside the busiest holiday period and arrive early in the day.

Feast Day

June 26 can be a particularly meaningful time to visit, but expect larger crowds and special schedules.

Pilgrim Tip: Always check the shrine calendar before booking; the most spiritually rich dates are often also the busiest.

Getting There From the United States For most U.S. pilgrims, Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is the most practical gateway.

Best Gateway: Rome Fiumicino (FCO)

For most pilgrims traveling from the United States, Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is the most practical arrival point. Main U.S. gateway for Rome.

From the airport, continue toward Rome by the most practical combination of rail, bus, rental car, taxi, or pre-arranged transfer. For remote shrines, a private transfer or rental car is often simpler than piecing together local connections.

Typical U.S. Routing

United States -> Rome Fiumicino (FCO) -> Rome -> Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace (Tomb of St. Josemaría Escrivá)

Our recommendation: Compare total travel time, not airfare alone. A slightly more expensive flight that removes a long ground transfer can make a pilgrimage much easier.

On the ground

Getting Around Plan around walking first, then use local transit or a transfer when needed.

A rental car is usually unnecessary for a visit centered on Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace (Tomb of St. Josemaría Escrivá). Rome is best handled with walking, public transportation, and occasional taxis or rideshare services.

Use transit for longer city movements and walk the final approach when practical. Historic centers often have limited parking and traffic restrictions.

Good to Know: Allow extra time around major feast days, weekends, and large liturgies, when local streets and transit can be crowded.

Where to Stay Stay close to the sacred site or in the most walkable part of Rome.

Choose lodging in the most walkable part of Rome, ideally within a short walk or simple transit ride of Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace (Tomb of St. Josemaría Escrivá). That makes it easier to attend Mass and return for prayer without losing time in traffic.

Best For Pilgrims

  • Historic-center lodging near the church or shrine
  • Religious guesthouses when available
  • Hotels near a major transit stop
  • Accessible lodging if your group has mobility needs

Pilgrim Tip: Check the actual walking route, not just the map distance; old cities can include steep streets, stairs, or cobblestones.

Accessibility Accessibility is good; historic conditions can still vary.

The main worship and visitor areas at Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace (Tomb of St. Josemaría Escrivá) are generally manageable for most pilgrims, though historic thresholds, paving, or side chapels may still create barriers. Accessibility services and entrances can change, so verify current arrangements before traveling.

Pilgrim Tip: If mobility is a concern, choose lodging and transportation that minimize unnecessary walking.

What to do

Most Important Things to Do Focus on the sacred site, Mass, prayer, and the devotion that brought pilgrims here.

Venerate the Saint or Relics

Pilgrims pray at the tomb of St. Josemaría beneath the altar of the church at Viale Bruno Buozzi 75, which is open to visitors for prayer at scheduled times; devotion peaks around his feast on June 26.

Allow: 30-60 minutes for prayer before moving through the rest of the site.

Attend Mass

If Mass is offered during your visit, make it the center of the pilgrimage rather than an add-on. Check the official shrine or parish schedule shortly before traveling.

Understand the Devotion

Read a short life of the saint before arriving, then pray for the grace to imitate the virtue most associated with that saint.

Explore the Church and Grounds

Look for the principal chapel, altar, crypt, museum, gardens, historic rooms, or pilgrimage route connected with the site. Allow another 45-90 minutes where available.

Pilgrim Tip: Arrive early or stay later than large tour groups when possible; the atmosphere is often much quieter.

Suggested Pilgrimage Itinerary A simple prayer-first plan keeps the visit meaningful without overloading the day.

Half-Day Pilgrimage

  • Begin at Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace (Tomb of St. Josemaría Escrivá) and spend time in quiet prayer.
  • Attend Mass if the schedule aligns with your visit.
  • Visit the principal shrine, tomb, relic, apparition site, or historic chapel.
  • Go to Confession when available.
  • Finish with another short period of prayer before leaving.

Have more time? Add other major basilicas and saint shrines in Rome.

Mass, Confession & Prayer Let Mass, Confession, and prayer shape the visit more than sightseeing.

When the church is active, Mass is the best way to place the saint's witness within the life of the Church. Confession, Adoration, and devotions vary by community.

Use the current schedule provided by the shrine, parish, diocese, or religious community shortly before visiting.

Pilgrim Tip: Avoid building your itinerary around an old fixed Mass time. Liturgical schedules can change seasonally and on feast days.

Practical

What to Bring Pack for prayer, walking, local weather, and respectful church visits.

Pilgrimage Essentials

  • Rosary
  • Small Bible or prayer book
  • Written prayer intentions
  • Journal and pen
  • Reusable water bottle

Practical Items

  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Small backpack
  • Portable phone charger
  • Modest clothing for churches
  • Payment card plus a small amount of Euro (€)

Pilgrim Tip: Pack lightly enough that you can spend the day walking and praying without managing unnecessary gear.

Before You Go Confirm the essentials before leaving and keep room for unhurried prayer.

Before leaving:

  • ✓ Check current opening hours
  • ✓ Check Mass and Confession information
  • ✓ Write down your prayer intentions
  • ✓ Confirm airport and ground transportation
  • ✓ Check the weather
  • ✓ Pack comfortable walking shoes
  • ✓ Confirm accessibility needs in advance
  • ✓ Carry appropriate church clothing
  • ✓ Leave room for quiet prayer

Most Important: Do not experience Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace (Tomb of St. Josemaría Escrivá) only as a historic attraction. Make time for prayer, the sacraments when available, and the devotion or biblical event that gives the place its meaning.

Additional Information A few practical details will make the pilgrimage easier and more prayerful.

Pilgrims pray at the tomb of St. Josemaría beneath the altar of the church at Viale Bruno Buozzi 75, which is open to visitors for prayer at scheduled times; devotion peaks around his feast on June 26.

Official Information

Check the shrine, parish, diocese, or custodian's official website for current opening hours, liturgies, closures, and pilgrimage notices.

Currency

Italy uses Euro (€). Carry a payment card plus a small amount of local cash for offerings, small cafés, or local transport.

Local Language

Italian is the principal language for this destination. English availability varies, but major international shrines often have multilingual staff or printed material.

Religious Etiquette

Dress respectfully, silence phones during prayer and Mass, avoid photographing worshippers at close range, and follow any local rules around relics, tombs, confessionals, or restricted chapels.

Pilgrim travel note: Mass times, opening hours, costs, accessibility, and local conditions can change. Please confirm important details directly with the shrine and your providers before you travel. Travel Disclaimer

Travel with a group

Prefer to travel with a group?

No guided pilgrimages that include Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace (Tomb of St. Josemaría Escrivá) are listed yet. Many parishes and dioceses organize their own trips, so ask at yours.

We use this to ask Catholic tour operators to add trips.

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Information & sources

Mass times, admission and travel requirements change. Confirm them with the official source before you visit.

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