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Assisi is preparing to welcome thousands of pilgrims Oct. 3–4 when the main celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death will take place. On his feast day, Oct. 4, the city will also welcome the president of Italy, Sergio Mattarella.
A solemn Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, with Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, the papal legate for the basilicas of Assisi, in attendance, Vatican News reported.
Activities surrounding the anniversary began on Sept. 24 and will run until Oct. 5. In addition to liturgical celebrations, cultural events and various charitable initiatives are being celebrated — among them the traditional procession dedicated to the saint at the Porziuncola.
One of the key moments will be the “Transitus,” the observance commemorating St. Francis’ final hours before his death.
The new bishop of Assisi, Felice Accrocca, noted that the figure of the saint continues to spark wide interest.
“St. Francis continues to fascinate people from all continents and cultures, thanks to his radical interpretation of the Gospel and his vision of society rooted in peace, fraternity, and hope,” he noted.
According to the prelate, many of the concerns Francis addressed during his lifetime remain relevant today. “Francis is, in fact, ahead of us,” he stated, referring to interfaith dialogue, the pursuit of peace, and care for our common home.
“His vision continues to inspire and challenge us,” he added.
A remembrance that looks to the future
For Accrocca, the anniversary is not merely about looking to the past.
Speaking to Vatican Media, he described the celebrations as a journey “between remembrance and the future.” Remembering Francis, he explained, can offer keys to understanding the present moment.
Accrocca highlighted that the saint’s teachings remain relevant because they constitute “a radical interpretation of the Gospel.”
A city that continues to welcome pilgrims
The October celebrations follow months of intense activity in Assisi.
Between February and March, the exposition of the mortal remains of St. Francis drew nearly 400,000 pilgrims, according to data presented at a press conference reported by Vatican News.
Fraternity will be another theme of the anniversary. Friar Marco Moroni, custos of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis, noted that the saint himself spoke of his brothers as a gift received from God.
“The Lord gave me brothers,” recalled Friar Moroni, quoting the Testament of St. Francis.
The friar explained that the Sacred Convent currently brings together more than 50 friars from some 20 different countries. For him, this life shared by people of diverse cultures demonstrates that fraternity, while not always easy, can be lived out in practice.
“It is also possible in the world,” he affirmed.
The events in October will also hold special significance as they coincide with the 40th anniversary of the interfaith gathering for peace convened by St. John Paul II in Assisi in 1986.
On that occasion, representatives of various religions came together to pray for peace. Four decades later, the anniversary of St. Francis’ death will once again place Assisi at the center of a gathering centered on that same theme.
The life and person of the saint has continued to impact new generations of Catholics. Among them is Carlo Acutis, who, although not from Assisi, asked to be buried there.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
