Historic Event in Assisi: St. Francis's Relics to be Displayed After 800 Years

The Franciscan community of the Sacro Convento in Assisi has announced the decision to publicly display the relics of St. Francis. This event is groundbreaking, as the saint's remains have been hidden from public view for nearly eight centuries. This decision is linked to the jubilee of the 800th anniversary of the death of Italy's patron saint. The ostension will begin this coming Sunday, February 22, and will last exactly four weeks, ending on March 22, 2026. The remains will be made accessible in the lower church of the basilica, which has been a pilgrimage destination for centuries from all over the world. The tomb of Saint Francis was only rediscovered in 1818 after days of searching under the main altar of the basilica, where it had been hidden in the 13th century for fear of theft or desecration by invaders.According to information provided by the Franciscans, interest in the event is enormous. So far, over 350,000 registrations have been recorded from people wishing to personally visit the basilica during this special time. Friar Giulio Cesareo, responsible for communication at the monastery, emphasizes that the primary goal of the initiative is to strengthen the relationship of the faithful with God and the community. It is estimated that an average of 15,000 people may pass before the relics each day. Although admission is free, for safety and logistical reasons, prior reservation of a place is required, and the available ticket pools are being exhausted at a rapid pace. „The 800th anniversary jubilee of the death of the saint, the Poor Man of Assisi, is an opportunity to strengthen faith, which is not some pre-existing opinion, but a living relationship.” — Friar Giulio CesareoFor the residents of the town of fewer than 28,000 people in Umbria and for the local authorities, this is a huge organizational challenge. For centuries, Francis's body was vigilantly guarded, and fears of looters meant the location of his resting place remained a secret. Now, in an era of modern security and efficient management of tourist traffic, the Church has decided on this symbolic gesture of openness. This event is part of a series of ceremonies commemorating the saint's stigmatization and death, which attract attention not only from Catholics but also from art historians and religious scholars from across the globe. 350,000 — pilgrims have already reserved a visit to the basilica

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