For the first time in history, pilgrims will be able to pray before the remains of St. Francis. From Saturday, Feb. 22 through March 22, the Saint’s remains will be in the lower church of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. 2026 marks the 800th anniversary of his death.
Beyond Simple Devotion
Fr. Giulio Cesareo is the director of the Communications Office of the Sacred Convent of Assisi and he spoke to Vatican News about the significance of presenting the relics to the pilgrims and the message the Saint offers the world of today.
In this current time, the world is marked with uncertainty and social tensions while people continue to search for meaning in their lives. The display of St. Francis‘ relics goes beyond simple devotion.
“Our body is the place where relationships happen. In the same way, St. Francis’ relics are also the shell of this seed of Francis that has sprouted, and it is a shell that tells us about him.”
City Prepartations
Assisi Mayor Valter Stoppini says nearly 400,000 have registered to pray before the relics and anticipates the number to reach a half-million. There are 400 volunteers to guide visitors through the cobblestone streets into the lower Basilica of St. Francis to view the bones displayed in a bulletproof glass box.
The city has narrow street and offer few services, however, the residents are familiar with mass influxes of pilgrims, but for limited celebrations.
Stoppini says, “We’re used to this kind of event, but that lasts for one, two or three days. This is something prolonged, for a month, so I’m a bit worried, but calm.”
Assisi in one of the most popular Christian pilgrimage destinations. It is on a hill in the Umbrian countryside with pink tinged limestone giving it a unique glow at sunset.
In 1182, St. Francis was born into a wealthy family. He renounced his wealth and lived as a mendicant friar with a mission to rebuild and reform the church.
He delivered a message of peace, love and attention to the poor. These teaching strongly inspired Pop Francis, the first pope to name himself after the saint.
Why Display the Relics of St. Francis?
“Why do people seek him? I am convinced that people seek St. Francis because he is truly the Gospel. In him we see that when the Gospel is welcomed, it is good news for the world, for individuals, and for the community. That is what attracts people, states Fr. Cesareo.
“From the beginning, Francis was called alter Christus — not in the sense of another Christ, but as an icon of Christ, an image resembling Christ.”
Fr. Cesareo explains: “in a sense, we see in St. Francis the shell of a seed that has germinated in charity, crossing time and space. This in an encouragement for all of us to live our daily lives with love. That is what St. Francis invites us to do.”
He continues: “[St. Francis] did not live in an ideal historical moment. Yet his message is beautiful: if a person truly embraces the Gospel, he creates a different story around himself; he creates new relationships.”
“We often hear a voice in the background saying: ‘You can’t do anything. You are alone. You are useless. The powerful rule. We can do nothing.’ Yet Francis testifies that it is a lie, because if one person embraces the Gospel, he may not change the whole world, but he may change things around him.”
The interview closed with this final statement from Fr. Cesareo; “… we cannot solve every problem, but if each of us takes one step, that step leaves an impact – it has an effect. And it is a lie to say that we can’t do anything.”
Sources:
AP News: The bones of St. Francis are going on public display, a mixed blessing for Assisi
Vatican News: Remains of St. Francis to be visible for veneration in Assisi
Yahoo: The bones of St. Francis are going on public display for the first time in history inside St. Francis’s lower Basilica
Featured Image Courtesy of Patrick Coquillard’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
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