Assisi: An extraordinary outpouring of faith is unfolding in Assisi, as around 350,000 pilgrims from across the world have registered to venerate the relics of St. Francis of Assisi in what will be the first-ever public exposition of the saint’s bodily remains.
From February 22 to March 22, the Lower Basilica of St. Francis will become a focal point of global pilgrimage. Faithful visitors will gather in prayer before the mortal remains of the saint whom the Church has long revered as “the living mirror of the Gospel.” The event holds profound historical and spiritual importance, coinciding with the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death.
For the first time in eight centuries, the saint’s body will be moved from its resting place in an underground chapel and placed before the papal altar in the Lower Basilica. Church authorities have described the month-long exposition as the unveiling of a “hidden treasure,” allowing pilgrims an unprecedented opportunity for veneration, reflection, and prayer.
To mark this milestone anniversary, Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special jubilee year in honour of St. Francis of Assisi. The jubilee will run until January 10, 2027, offering the faithful the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions established by the Church.
A Body Concealed for Centuries
Following his death in 1226, St. Francis was buried beneath the main altar of the Lower Basilica in a deliberately concealed location. The decision was taken to protect his remains from theft, a common risk for revered relics during the medieval period. His burial site remained hidden for nearly six centuries until the night of December 12–13, 1818, when the tomb was rediscovered.
An official examination conducted in 1819 confirmed the authenticity of the remains, identifying them as those of the Poor Man of Assisi. In more recent history, the tomb was opened twice—once in 1978 and again in 2015. On both occasions, experts and Church authorities reaffirmed that the remains bore witness to a life marked by intense physical suffering, illness, and the wounds of Christ carried during the final years of the saint’s life. These findings were seen as powerful testimony to Francis’ radical fidelity to the Gospel until his last breath.
Liturgical Events and Scholarly Reflections
The public veneration will be preceded by solemn vespers on Saturday, February 21, at 4 pm local time. This initial liturgical celebration will be reserved exclusively for Franciscan friars. Following the service, the saint’s remains will be transferred in a solemn procession from the underground chapel to the Lower Basilica.
The historic event will also be accompanied by the release of a special 160-page edition of San Francesco Patrono d’Italia, published by the Sacred Convent of Assisi. The issue is entirely dedicated to St. Francis and features contributions from leading Franciscan scholars, offering theological, historical, and spiritual reflections on his enduring legacy.
A Jubilee Gift for the Universal Church
The jubilee year dedicated to St. Francis is being presented as a singular spiritual gift to the entire Catholic Church. The Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary has clarified that, during this period, the faithful may obtain a plenary indulgence by meeting the standard conditions laid down by Church teaching.
Catholics worldwide may receive the indulgence by visiting any Franciscan church, or any place of worship dedicated to or associated with St. Francis, and by fulfilling the required spiritual acts. These include sacramental confession, reception of the Holy Eucharist, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
According to Catholic doctrine, a plenary indulgence represents the complete remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven. The Church teaches that she is entrusted with this authority as steward of the fruits of Christ’s redemption.
As Assisi prepares to welcome pilgrims in unprecedented numbers, the historic exposition of St. Francis’ relics stands as a powerful reminder of a life wholly given to the Gospel—a legacy that continues to inspire faith, humility, and radical love eight centuries later.