For the first time in eight centuries, the body of St Francis of Assisi will be visible to pilgrims and visitors. Source: Aleteia.
The Franciscan community in Assisi has announced that the saint’s mortal remains will be displayed from February 22 to March 22, 2026, marking the 800th anniversary of his death.
With the approval of Pope Leo XIV, the body will be moved from its tomb in the crypt to the foot of the papal altar in the Lower Basilica so the faithful can pray before it.
Organisers say the month-long exposition is meant to be a moment of prayer and encounter, open to all. Due to anticipated crowds, free online reservations will be required, with options for guided group visits of the basilica, led by a friar or individual silent visits.
The route will be accessible, with special provisions for people with disabilities, and two international Masses will be celebrated daily in the Upper Basilica during the period.
The announcement coincides with a wider national observance: Italy has restored October 4 as a civil holiday honouring St Francis. The measure takes effect in 2026 and was welcomed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who called the saint a foundational figure for Italian identity.
The reinstated holiday, first created in 1958 and dropped in 1977, returns just as Assisi prepares for an extraordinary influx of visitors during the centenary year.
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