Assisi marks 800 years since Saint Francis' death

Thousands of pilgrims, religious leaders, and civil officials gathered in Assisi on October 3 and 4, 2026, to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis. The commemorations serve as the peak of a Holy Year running from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027.

The celebrations began on October 3 with the Transitus, a traditional Franciscan prayer ritual. Following a procession and prayers at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, a walking pilgrimage through Assisi concluded at the Basilica of Saint Francis. At midnight, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, the papal legate for the basilicas in Assisi, celebrated a Mass that allowed the faithful to pray at the saint's tomb throughout the night.

On October 4, the anniversary concluded with a solemn Mass at the Basilica of Saint Francis. The event included Italian President Sergio Mattarella and various diplomatic and civil leaders. The gatherings focused on the saint's messages of peace, fraternity, and care for the poor and vulnerable.