friar Giulio Cesareo: “It’s always amazing to see how much people love Saint Francis”
2026 will be the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. The main event among the celebrations held in Assisi (Italy) will be the first public and prolonged veneration of the mortal remains of Saint Francis. The initiative has achieved an extraordinary milestone: so far, 250,000 reservations from pilgrims from every corner of the world between February 22nd and March 22nd 2026. This result testifies the universality of the message of the Saint of Assisi and the timeless appeal of his figure.
“It is always amazing to see how much people love Saint Francis” said friar Giulio Cesareo, OFMConv, director of the Communications office of the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. “It is true that he is a universal brother, and it is a great honour for us, his disciples and brothers, to be able to promote encounters with him through our commitment and work. Even today he still has a lot to share and offer to all humankind”.
Everybody can join
The veneration will take place in the lower church of the Basilica. Reservations are still open and are always free and mandatory. They can exclusively be made through the official website www.saintfrancisliveson.org
All information about this event and the whole program of the celebrations of the 2026 Franciscan Centenary at the Basilica of Saint Francis are also available there.
On this website, people can also subscribe to the newsletter to receive regular updates and useful information.
Digital content and updates
The community of friars is offering information and resources on the Basilica’s social media and official web channels to let pilgrims get ready for this spiritual journey. Weekly updates are available on Tuesdays, while more cultural and spiritual posts are proposed on Saturdays . The “San Francesco digitale” App is also a useful tool (with automatic translation to most languages) to make the most out of the experience of the veneration and the Franciscan Centenary.
The 2026 Franciscan Centenary
The veneration of Saint Francis’ mortal remains is part of the celebrations for the 2026 Franciscan Centenary. The spiritual goal of the anniversary is not mainly the occasion to remember Saint Francis’ death; on the contrary, it is the opportunity to celebrate his life and message, which continue to inspire millions of people even today. This is the meaning of the anniversary claim: ‘Saint Francis lives on’. Its inspiration comes forth the Gospel according to John: ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit’ (Jn 12:24). Saint Francis of Assisi has been indeed a fruitful seed – as his worn-out body testifies – capable of sprouting and bearing fruit in the life of those – men and women – who have been following him over 800 years. The 2026 Centenary is going to offer an opportunity to experience Saint Francis and his message, which are still relevant to our society.
