Saint Francis's Remains to Be Used in Sacred Ritual After 800 Years

Left; The Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, Italy, where the saint's remains will be displayed in 2026. Right, The skeletal remains of St Francis of Assisi.

October

/ 2025

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In a remarkable ecclesiastical announcement that has captured global attention, the Catholic Church has revealed plans to show the remains of Saint Francis of Assisi for the first time in eight centuries. The beloved saint's mortal remains will be on display publicly from February 22 to March 22, 2026, marking an unprecedented moment in religious history. This extraordinary event coincides with the 800th anniversary of the saint's death, offering millions of faithful pilgrims a rare opportunity to venerate one of Christianity's most revered figures.

The announcement, made by the Sacro Convento in Assisi on October 4, 2025 – the feast day of Saint Francis – represents what Vatican News describes as "the first extended public display of the mortal remains of Saint Francis for an entire month."

With Holy Father Leo XIV’s approval through the Vatican Secretariat of State, this historic exhibition will take place at the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, Italy, where the saint's body will be moved from its crypt tomb to the foot of the papal altar in the lower church.

The crypt of Saint Francis beneath the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. (Peter K Burian/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ancient Traditions of Sacred Veneration

The practice of venerating saints' relics traces its origins to the early Christian Church, specifically after the martyrdom of Saint Polycarp nearly 1,870 years ago. According to ancient texts, his followers collected the martyr's bones and treated them with profound reverence, establishing a tradition that would become central to Catholic spirituality for centuries. This ritual, known as veneration, represents far more than mere display – it embodies a sacred communion between the living faithful and those who have achieved sainthood through extraordinary devotion.

Saint Francis's skeletal remains rest within a sealed glass urn beneath the Basilica, preserved in a controlled nitrogen atmosphere to prevent decay. When his tomb was first opened in 1818 during an excavation commissioned by Pope Pius VII, witnesses described the skeleton as remarkably intact for its age. The bones, now aged and yellowed by time, include the long, fragile bones of arms and legs, the curved line of ribs, and pieces of the skull, all arranged reverently within protective casing alongside several coins, beads, a ring, and a piece of iron.

The skeletal remains of St Francis of Assisi on display.

The skeletal remains of St Francis of Assisi. (Sala Stampa della Santa Sede)

The Saint Who Bore the Wounds of Christ

Born as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone between 1181 and 1182 to a wealthy Italian cloth merchant, Francis experienced a profound spiritual transformation that led him to renounce his family's riches and embrace a life of poverty, compassion, and service. He founded the Franciscan Order, emphasizing devotion to all living creatures and establishing himself as the patron saint of animals, the environment, and Italy itself. Francis died in 1226 at the remarkably young age of 44 and was canonized just two years later by Pope Gregory IX.

Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of Saint Francis's life was his experience of the stigmata – the miraculous appearance of Christ's crucifixion wounds on his own body. According to Christian tradition, Francis received a vision of a Seraph, an angelic being with six wings, while praying on Mount La Verna in 1224. As the vision faded, marks resembling the wounds of the crucified Christ appeared on his hands, feet, and side, making him the first recorded person to receive the stigmata in Christian history.

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A Pilgrimage for the Modern Age

The Vatican expects a "large influx of faithful" during the month-long display, necessitating a mandatory online reservation system through the centennial website www.sanfrancescovive.org. Pilgrims can choose between guided group visits with Franciscan friars offering spiritual reflections, or individual visits allowing for personal prayer and contemplation. The event's motto, "Saint Francis Lives," emphasizes the continuing relevance of the saint's message of peace, fraternity, and environmental stewardship in contemporary times.

The timing of this unprecedented display coincides with Italy's recent parliamentary approval of October 4 as a national civil holiday dedicated to Franciscan values. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attended the official celebrations, recognizing Saint Francis as "one of the foundational figures of Italian identity." The saint's body was initially interred in a hidden location to protect it from potential desecration, remaining concealed for nearly 600 years until its rediscovery in 1818.

This extraordinary event represents more than mere historical curiosity – it offers modern pilgrims a tangible connection to medieval spirituality and the enduring power of faith. Special accommodations will be provided for visitors with mobility or visual impairments, ensuring the veneration remains accessible to all who seek this profound spiritual experience. Each participant will receive a gift from the Franciscan community at the conclusion of their visit, creating a lasting memory of this once-in-a-lifetime encounter with sacred history.

Top image: Left; The Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, Italy, where the saint's remains will be displayed in 2026. Right, The skeletal remains of St Francis of Assisi. Source: Demeester/CC BY-SA 3.0, Right; Sala Stampa della Santa Sede.

By Gary Manners