Unitalsi

What Unitalsi does

Unitalsi (Unione Nazionale Italiana Trasporto Ammalati a Lourdes e Santuari Internazionali) is an Italian Catholic non-profit association founded in 1903 and headquartered in Rome at Via Aurelia 796. Its core mission is the organization and logistical coordination of pilgrimages for sick persons, persons with disabilities, and pilgrims to international Catholic shrines, with Lourdes as the primary destination and additional offerings to Loreto, Fatima, Santiago de Compostela, the Holy Land, Poland, and Turkey/Cappadocia. Pilgrimages are supported by a trained volunteer corps including barellieri (stretcher bearers), volunteer nurses, and medical staff, with transport via train, bus, and airplane departing from multiple Italian regional sections.

The association operates a national infrastructure of 19 regional sections and over 250 subsections across Italy, supported by approximately 94 employees and a broader volunteer base. Beyond pilgrimages, Unitalsi runs the Progetto dei Piccoli, a charitable program providing free accommodation in 11 houses across Rome, Genoa, Naples, Bologna, and Milan for families of children receiving treatment at major pediatric hospitals, including Istituto Giannina Gaslini in Genoa. Additional programs include international volunteering at Hogar Niño Dios in Bethlehem under the Cuore di Latte project, the annual Pellegrinaggio Nazionale dei Piccoli, the Passi di Speranza video series on TV2000, and a digital distance-learning platform (FAD) for volunteer formation.

Unitalsi is funded through member contributions, donations, and Italian 5x1000 and 8x1000 tax designations rather than commercial revenue. Services to beneficiaries are provided free of charge. The organization has received formal Papal recognition, including an audience with Pope Francis in December 2023 and a visit by Pope Leone XIV to Lourdes in 2025. Leadership includes President Rocco Palese, Vice President Cosimo Cilli (also responsible for the Progetto dei Piccoli), National Spiritual Assistant Mons. Rocco Pennacchio, National Service Coordinator Giovanni Punzi, and National Medical Coordinator Federico Baiocco.

Name

Unitalsi

Legal name

UNITALSI - Unione Naz. Italiana Trasporto Ammalati a Lourdes e Santuari Internaz.

Website

https://unitalsi.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Unitalsi is an Italian Catholic non-profit founded in 1903 that organizes free pilgrimages to Lourdes and other international shrines for sick and disabled persons, operating through 19 regional sections and 250+ subsections across Italy and running 11 free accommodation houses for families of sick children.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Pilgrimage and Charitable Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Pilgrimage Packages (Air-Inclusive) Tour Operators (THAKAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Group Travel (Church/Mosque/Temple) Organizers (THAKAHAH), Christian Pilgrimage & Holy Land Tour Operators (THAKAHAB), Medical & Healthcare Travel Housing (Travel Nurses, Locums, Patient/Family) (THAMAHAD)

Keywords

• Religious pilgrimage services
• Catholic charity association
• Medical volunteer assistance
• Family accommodation services
• Nonprofit pilgrimage logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Unitalsi organizes and coordinates Catholic pilgrimages for sick persons, persons with disabilities, and able-bodied pilgrims to international sanctuaries (primarily Lourdes, plus Loreto, Fatima, Santiago de Compostela, the Holy Land, Poland, and Turkey/Cappadocia), providing full logistical support including transportation (special trains, buses, airplanes), volunteer stretcher bearers (barellieri), nurses, and medical staff. The association also runs charitable accommodation services through the Progetto dei Piccoli, operating 11 free guest houses near Italian pediatric hospitals in Rome, Genoa, Naples, Bologna, and Milan for families of sick children receiving treatment.

Product overview

Unitalsi (Unione Naz. Italiana Trasporto Ammalati a Lourdes e Santuari Internazionali) is a Catholic charitable association that organizes pilgrimages for sick persons, persons with disabilities, and pilgrims to international sanctuaries, primarily Lourdes. The core offering consists of organized pilgrimages with transport services (train, bus, airplane), supported by a charitable support ecosystem including the Progetto dei Piccoli (11 accommodation houses for families of sick children in major Italian cities), Volontariato in Terra Santa (volunteering at Hogar Niño Dios in Bethlehem), and media content via Passi di Speranza video series. The association operates through 19 regional sections and over 250 sub-sections across Italy, supported by training programs and newsletter services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fondazione G.B. Tomassi: A foundation associated with UNITALSI for charitable activities.

Products and services

• Pellegrinaggi a Lourdes Organization and logistics of pilgrimages to Lourdes for sick persons, persons with disabilities, and able-bodied pilgrims, with transport options including the special Treno Bianco train, buses, and airplanes from various Italian regions, supported by volunteer stretcher bearers (barellieri), nurses, and medical staff.
• Pellegrinaggi a Santuari Internazionali

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Suore del Verbo Incarnato (Sisters of the Incarnate Word)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2009, Unitalsi has supported the Sisters of the Incarnate Word who manage Hogar Niño Dios in Bethlehem, a facility for children with disabilities rejected or abandoned by their families. The partnership was established under the 'Cuore di Latte' (Milk Heart) project. Unitalsi volunteers provide ongoing support and care for the children at the facility.
• Hogar Niño Dios (Bethlehem)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA childcare facility in Bethlehem managed by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word that currently accommodates 30 children. Unitalsi has supported the facility since 2009 and provides volunteers for service. The partnership has expanded to include the Antoniano Center and the House of Missionary Sisters of Charity.
• TV2000majorGTM or Marketing PartnerItalian Catholic television channel that provides media coverage for Unitalsi activities including pilgrimages, the 'Passi di Speranza' program, and World Day of the Sick celebrations. TV2000 has produced numerous documentaries and reports about Unitalsi's charitable work.
• Casa Bernadette (Rome)coreOthersPart of Unitalsi's Progetto dei Piccoli, Casa Bernadette in Rome provides free accommodation for families of children receiving treatment at Rome's major pediatric hospitals. The facility offers hospitality, support, and assistance during difficult medical periods.
• Casa Sveva (Naples)coreOthersA reception facility in Naples that welcomes children and their families free of charge during treatments and long hospitalizations at Campania hospitals, offering hospitality, support, and a family environment.
• Istituto Giannina Gaslini (Genoa)majorOthersLeading pediatric hospital in Genoa. Unitalsi operates accommodation houses for families of children receiving treatment at Gaslini Hospital, with the Genoa facility having hosted over 3,500 families over 20 years.
• Associazione di Promozione Sociale CURAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Association of Social Promotion CURA, led by Alessandro Accorsi, with support from the Italian Osteopaths Registry. A team of qualified osteopaths provides free services during the Pellegrinaggio Nazionale dei Piccoli pilgrimage.
• Ministero del Lavoro e delle Politiche Sociali (Ministry of Labor and Social Policies)majorOthersThe Italian Ministry that funded the 'In Ascolto' (Listening) project, a training program for Unitalsi volunteers. The project had high participation and surprising results with over 150 volunteers from sections across Italy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Lourdes: The official shrine authority that operates the Lourdes sanctuary site and coordinates incoming pilgrimages. A broader incumbent player that hosts and partners with Unitalsi rather than directly competing, but central to the same pilgrimage ecosystem.

Direct peers

• HCPT – Hosanna House Children's Pilgrimage Trust: UK-based Catholic charity that takes disabled and sick children on pilgrimage to Lourdes, with accompanying volunteer groups. Highly comparable to Unitalsi's Pellegrinaggio Nazionale dei Piccoli in both mission and operating model.
• ATS pro Terra Sancta: Franciscan nonprofit organization of the Custody of the Holy Land supporting Holy Land pilgrimages and Christian communities. Directly comparable to Unitalsi's Holy Land pilgrimage program and Bethlehem volunteering work.
• Ordre de Malte France – Hospitalité: French branch of the Sovereign Order of Malta organizes Hospitalité pilgrimages for the sick and disabled to Lourdes and other sanctuaries. Directly comparable to Unitalsi's volunteer-led sick-pilgrimage mission.
• Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes: International Catholic volunteer association that welcomes and assists sick pilgrims at the Lourdes shrine. Operates the same sick-pilgrimage service model as Unitalsi, often partnering across borders during major pilgrimage events.
• Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi: Vatican-affiliated Italian pilgrimage organization offering organized pilgrimages to Rome and international Catholic shrines. Comparable as an Italian Catholic pilgrimage operator with overlapping destination portfolio.

Emerging players

• Frate Jacopa: Italian Catholic charitable organization focused on service to the suffering and pilgrimage-related social projects. Comparable as an Italian faith-based charitable group serving pilgrims and the sick, though with a smaller scale than Unitalsi.

Regional players

• Hibernian Pilgrimage Trust (Catholic Hibernian Society): Irish Catholic organization running pilgrimages to Lourdes including dedicated sick-pilgrimage streams. Comparable to Unitalsi in the sick-pilgrimage niche but operates primarily in Ireland rather than Italy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/UNITALSI1903
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unitalsi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unitalsi