In the eighth centenary of his earthly passing (1226–2026), the seraphic figure of Francis of Assisi is once again coming before Christendom not only through the enduring resonance of his words, but through the very physical presence of his mortal remains. An event of epoch-making significance - the first public and prolonged ostension - has begun in Assisi, the heart of Franciscan spirituality. At first light on Saturday, 21 February, in an atmosphere of recollection and sacred intimacy, the community of the Friars Minor Conventual, together with Bishop Domenico Sorrentino, Apostolic Administrator of Assisi–Nocera Umbra–Gualdo Tadino and of Foligno, witnessed an act as rare as it is laden with meaning: the exhumation. With reverence and meticulous care, the simple sarcophagus that has for centuries kept the Saint’s remains in the crypt of the Basilica was opened. That moment - poised between historyand faith - once again revealed to the world the bones of the man who chose evangelical poverty, turning his life into a living Gospel.
The solemn translation into the Basilica
In the afternoon, a solemn translation accompanied the Saint’s relics to the Lower Basilica. There, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Pontifical Legate, presided at the celebration of Vespers, a hymn that united the pilgrim Church on earth with the Church in heaven. The response of the People of God was immediate, reflecting the undiminished attraction of the Poverello. A vast influx of pilgrims, arriving from every continent, has already booked its time of prayerful encounter - evidence of a devotion that crosses geographical and cultural boundaries. Alongside this current of spirituality stands a gesture of concrete charity: the offerings collected will support the creation of a paediatric oncology hospice in Umbria, turning contemplation into action, in the Saint’s most authentic spirit.
Fr Marco Moroni, Custodian of the Sacro Convento, spoke of a “bodily” experience of faith, leading back to the mystery of the Incarnation. To meet Francis’s remains is to draw near to a life given radically for the Gospel - a life that, precisely in being poured out, was found in its fullness. It is an invitation to rediscover what is essential: Francis as a man of the Gospel who speaks to us of Jesus.
Echoing this reading is the voice of Bishop Sorrentino, who says that displaying the Saint’s bones amounts to proclaiming that “Francis is alive”. His deepest secret, beyond the fundamental themes of peace and the care of creation, lies in his radical choice of Jesus, symbolised by the archetypal gesture of stripping himself. In that act lies the hermeneutic key to his entire existence: only Christ remains; everything else passes. The ostension, then, stands as a powerful summons for the present, so that every believer, following Francis’s example, may rediscover what alone is worth holding- and what does not fade.
From 21 February to 22 March 2026, the programme sets out a series of liturgical, cultural and spiritual events designed to foster prayer and reflection. Among the liturgical highlights are Holy Mass on 22 February at 11.00 a.m. in the Upper Church of the Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, and the closing Eucharistic celebration on 22 March at 5.00 p.m. with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi. On the spiritual side, the Francescan Youth Meeting is scheduled for 14–15 March, dedicated to young people and to a deeper engagement with Franciscan values. The cultural programme includes the “Sacrae Passionis Concentus” concerts by the Basilica’s Cappella Musicale (28 February, 7 and 21 March at 7.30 p.m.), a concert by the Knoxville Catholic High School Singers (10 March at 9.00 p.m.) and one by the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina (17 March).
Fr.L.C.
Silere non possum