Huge crowds expected to venerate St Francis’ remains

By CathNews New Zealand

February 24th, 2026

St Francis of Assisi (Artwork by Giunta Pisano/Wikimedia Commons)

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected to venerate the holy remains of St Francis of Assisi which will be on display for a month. Source: EWTN News.

The saint’s bones are fully visible in a glass box in his basilica in Assisi, Italy, in an exhibition that runs from February 22 to March 22. The box is outside the stone tomb in a crypt where the remains usually rest.

A system with QR code reservations allowed some 750 people to enter the lower part of the basilica every 30 minutes through most of the day on February 22 to view the saint. Some people were visibly overcome with emotion at the experience.

People knelt before St Francis’ remains, while many kissed the glass and left their written prayers.

Speaking with media on February 21, the Franciscan friars organising the event said public veneration of St Francis’ body has probably never happened before in history.

The extraordinary viewing has been the most highly anticipated part of celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the death of the poor friar in 1226.

As of February 21, 370,000 people had reserved a time slot, and while 80 per cent of the registered pilgrims will travel from within Italy, the friars expect visitors from countries on five continents.

More than 400 lay volunteers and many Franciscan friars living in Assisi – heirs to the religious order founded by St Francis – are involved in carrying out the ambitious project and related events throughout the month.

Assisi’s new Bishop, Felice Accrocca, who will be formally installed on March 25, said at a press conference that St Francis, in life, was barely five feet and two inches tall: “He wore dirty clothes and his face was not beautiful, yet God gave great power to his words.

“Francis continues to speak. I hope that this month will help us to reflect on this,” said the bishop-elect.

A special Jubilee Year of Saint Francis proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV is taking place from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, marking eight centuries since the death of the saint.

FULL STORY

Thousands convene in Assisi to pray before bones of St. Francis on first day of historic viewing (By Hannah Brockhaus/EWTN News)

Year of Saint Francis: ‘Indulgence is an encounter with God, not a spiritual shortcut’ (Vatican News)

Archbishop Felice Accrocca (Catholic-Hierarchy)