News update
Bones of St Francis of Assisi go on public display
Sunday 22 February 2026, Assisi: the bones of St Francis of Assisi are on rare public display in the lower church of the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, Italy, from 22 February to 22 March 2026. Marking the 800th anniversary of his death, this is only the second time his remains have been shown, following a one-day viewing in 1978.
To mark the coming of the 800th anniversary of St Francis’ death, an occasion the Franciscan family calls the transitus, pilgrims were welcomed into the lower church in Assisi. This was the first extended public display of his remains, which had previously been shown only briefly during examinations, most recently in 1978.
St Francis, founder of the Franciscan movement and one of the most beloved figures in Christian history, continues to shape the imagination of the Church. After Christ and the Virgin Mary, he is one of the most frequently depicted saints in Christian art, literature and film. His love for creation; birds, animals, the sun, moon and stars prompted Pope John Paul II to officially proclaim him the patron saint of the environment. St Francis remains a spiritual companion for all who seek peace, humility and compassion. As our own patron saint, we are deeply honoured that his spirit of tenderness and solidarity guides our work.
When St Francis died in 1226, his followers feared that his body might be stolen. His remains were therefore hidden deep beneath the basilica, enclosed in an iron cage and buried so securely that their location was forgotten for six centuries. Mediaeval accounts describe the extraordinary marks he bore: the stigmata he received after a vision of a crucified Seraph. Thomas of Celano recorded, “His hands and his feet seemed to be pierced by nails… His torso was scarred as if it had been pierced by a spear, and it often seeped blood.” These descriptions inevitably call to mind the wounds of Christ himself.
The tomb’s exact location became uncertain over time and in 1818, it was rediscovered during excavations when workers uncovered the cage and the simple coffin within it. Church and scientific authorities confirmed the authenticity of the bones, and in 1978 they were sealed in a nitrogen filled perspex container to protect them from decay. Since then, pilgrims have been able to pray at his underground shrine, though the bones themselves remained unseen.
The approach of his 800th anniversary changed that. The reliquary was placed at the foot of the main altar for a month long veneration, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors and opening a year of commemorations in Assisi and around the world. Italy embraced the moment as a national celebration.
Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures, composed as he approached death, is among the earliest works of Italian literature. The oldest surviving manuscript, now 790 years old, is still kept in Assisi.
His legacy continues to shape the Church today. Pope Francis, who took his name in honour of the saint, drew deeply on the Canticle in Laudato Si’, the Church’s first major teaching document on care for creation, calling the natural world our ‘beautiful mother’, echoing St Francis’ own words in the Canticle of the Creatures.
The public display of the saint’s bones became a vivid reminder of the spiritual vision that inspires the Church’s commitment to environmental justice, and of the enduring relevance of a saint whose life still calls us to compassion, humility and care for the most vulnerable.
St Francis, founder of the Franciscan movement and one of the most beloved figures in Christian history, continues to shape the imagination of the Church. After Christ and the Virgin Mary, he is one of the most frequently depicted saints in Christian art, literature and film. His love for creation; birds, animals, the sun, moon and stars prompted Pope John Paul II to officially proclaim him the patron saint of the environment. St Francis remains a spiritual companion for all who seek peace, humility and compassion. As our own patron saint, we are deeply honoured that his spirit of tenderness and solidarity guides our work.
When St Francis died in 1226, his followers feared that his body might be stolen. His remains were therefore hidden deep beneath the basilica, enclosed in an iron cage and buried so securely that their location was forgotten for six centuries. Mediaeval accounts describe the extraordinary marks he bore: the stigmata he received after a vision of a crucified Seraph. Thomas of Celano recorded, “His hands and his feet seemed to be pierced by nails… His torso was scarred as if it had been pierced by a spear, and it often seeped blood.” These descriptions inevitably call to mind the wounds of Christ himself.
The tomb’s exact location became uncertain over time and in 1818, it was rediscovered during excavations when workers uncovered the cage and the simple coffin within it. Church and scientific authorities confirmed the authenticity of the bones, and in 1978 they were sealed in a nitrogen filled perspex container to protect them from decay. Since then, pilgrims have been able to pray at his underground shrine, though the bones themselves remained unseen.
The approach of his 800th anniversary changed that. The reliquary was placed at the foot of the main altar for a month long veneration, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors and opening a year of commemorations in Assisi and around the world. Italy embraced the moment as a national celebration.
Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures, composed as he approached death, is among the earliest works of Italian literature. The oldest surviving manuscript, now 790 years old, is still kept in Assisi.
His legacy continues to shape the Church today. Pope Francis, who took his name in honour of the saint, drew deeply on the Canticle in Laudato Si’, the Church’s first major teaching document on care for creation, calling the natural world our ‘beautiful mother’, echoing St Francis’ own words in the Canticle of the Creatures.
The public display of the saint’s bones became a vivid reminder of the spiritual vision that inspires the Church’s commitment to environmental justice, and of the enduring relevance of a saint whose life still calls us to compassion, humility and care for the most vulnerable.
Photo: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News
