From February 22 to March 22, 2026: A Journey of Faith and Spirituality in Multiple Languages, Led by Friars, with Special Attention to Inclusion for People with Disabilities
As part of the commemoration of the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis’s death (1226–2026), a historic event is set to welcome pilgrims from around the world. The official announcement was made on the feast day of the Patron Saint of Italy, from the loggia of the Lower Piazza, in front of pilgrims gathered for the celebrations. For the first time, the mortal remains of Saint Francis will be visible to all—a remarkable gift, a profound invitation to prayer, and an opportunity to witness the Gospel of Christ fully lived in the life of a person like us.
This display, rooted in the Gospel theme of the seed that dies to bear fruit in love and fraternity, invites us to reflect on the life of the Saint, who continues to bear fruit 800 years later and inspires humanity on the path of peace, fraternity, service to the marginalized, joy, and care for creation.
A Historic Event for the Franciscan Centenary
The 800th anniversary of Saint Francis’s death in 2026 is a time of remembrance and renewal. It is not a celebration of death but, as Saint Francis himself called it “sister death,” a celebration of life that blossoms from self-giving and offering. As Jesus taught (cf. John 12:24), Francis’s life, given in love for Christ and for the brothers and sisters he encountered, is a seed sown in the earth that continues to yield fruits of peace, faith, and love.
In this spirit, and with the approval granted by Pope Leo XIV through the Vatican Secretariat of State, the public display of his mortal remains will take place. From February 22 to March 22, 2026, the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi will unveil this treasure. It will be a unique opportunity to pray before the remains of the one called the “alter Christus” (another Christ) because he was an authentic image of Christ and a living mirror of the Gospel.
This experience calls us to recognize that the gift of ourselves in love, while it consumes us, becomes—when lived in union with Christ—the passage to the fullness of Life, which is communion with God the Father and all humanity through the action of the Holy Spirit, the love that is the source and fulfillment of unity. The body of Saint Francis will be moved from its tomb in the crypt and placed at the foot of the papal altar in the lower church of the Basilica of Saint Francis.
The Burial of Saint Francis: A Chronicle
The story of Saint Francis’s tomb is itself a tale of faith and devotion. After his death, his body was made inaccessible beneath the main altar of the lower church of the Basilica to prevent possible theft. It remained hidden for centuries until it was finally rediscovered during the night of December 12–13, 1818, after a long and challenging search. The first official examination took place in 1819, confirming the identity of the remains of saint Francis of Assisi.
Since then, other examinations have allowed for the study and preservation of this precious body. The 1978 examination, in preparation for the 750th anniversary of his death, and the most recent one in 2015, provided new scientific insights and renewed the certainty that this body, marked by illness and the stigmata, is a powerful sign of the love that animated him. Today, seeing these remains is a tangible encounter with the Gospel fully lived.
How to Participate in This Moment of Grace
A massive influx of pilgrims is expected in Assisi, with thousands of people expected from around the world. To ensure a meaningful and reflective experience for everyone, a free and mandatory online reservation system has been set up on the centenary website: www.sanfrancescovive.org available in both Italian and English.
This system will help manage the flow of visitors and provide each individual, family, or group with a moment of quiet and calm veneration.
Reservation and Visit Options
The veneration of the Saint’s body will be accessible to all, designed to foster both personal and communal encounters. Visitors can choose between two options at the time of reservation, depending on the time slots:
- Group veneration accompanied by a friar: Visitors will be grouped by language and guided by a friar who will offer a brief meditation to help grasp the spiritual significance of the experience.
- Individual veneration: A moment of personal and silent prayer.
The accompanied veneration experience will be available in Italian, English, Spanish, German, and Polish. For other languages, specific requests can be made via email to info@sanfrancescovive.org
At the end of the veneration, a brief liturgical rite will follow, and each participant will receive a gift — a tangible sign and memory of this encounter — on behalf of the friars’ community.
To ensure accessibility for people with motor or visual disabilities, suitable pathways have been arranged. However, it is necessary to indicate the presence of individuals with mobility impairments, low vision, or blindness in the free and mandatory reservation form.
Celebrations and Hospitality
To enrich the pilgrims’ experience, two international Holy Masses will be held daily (at 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM) from Monday to Saturday in the upper church of the Basilica of Saint Francis. Additionally, there will be evening community veneration experiences organized for families, religious communities, members of the Secular Franciscan Order, people with disabilities, and others.
A Seed of Hope for Our Time
“The display of Saint Francis’s body,” said Friar Giulio Cesareo, OFMConv, Director of the Communications Office of the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, “is not just a devotional event but a powerful message for believers and society as a whole. It reminds us that from a life given in love, unexpected fruitfulness can arise. Francis lives on, and his spirit continues to work among us, calling us to be builders of peace, guardians of creation, and witnesses of a love that never dies.
Let us prepare to live this extraordinary moment of grace together, allowing ourselves to be inspired once again by the life and person of Francis of Assisi.”
Detailed information in both Italian and English, including reservation procedures, will be available starting October 4, 2025, on www.sanfrancescovive.org
