The historic city of Assisi is preparing to welcome thousands of pilgrims and dignitaries for the main celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis. The main events will take place on October 3 and 4, culminating on his feast day with a solemn Mass presided over by Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, alongside Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime. Italian President Sergio Mattarella is also scheduled to attend the feast day observances. The broader program of events will run from September 24 to October 5, featuring liturgical services, cultural gatherings, charitable initiatives, and the traditional procession dedicated to the saint at the Porziuncola.
A central moment of the commemoration will be the “Transit,” which honors the final hours of Saint Francis’s life. Reflecting on the anniversary, the newly appointed Bishop of Assisi, Monsignor Felice Accrocca, emphasized that Saint Francis’s legacy continues to resonate globally due to his radical interpretation of the Gospel. He noted that the saint’s vision—centered on peace, interreligious dialogue, and fraternity—remains directly relevant to modern challenges. Church leaders describe the milestone not merely as a look back at history, but as a journey connecting memory to the future.
Peace and universal fraternity stand as central themes for this historic milestone. Referring to the famous account of Francis taming the wolf of Gubbio, Cardinal Zuppi called for a “disarmed” peace that sets aside prejudice and hostility. Meanwhile, Friar Marco Moroni, custodian of the Sacred Convent of Assisi, pointed to the convent’s own community of over 50 friars from around 20 nations as living proof that practical fraternity across cultures is achievable.
The celebrations build upon a year of extraordinary spiritual gathering in Assisi, which saw nearly 400,000 pilgrims visit the mortal remains of Saint Francis during a special exposition earlier this year. This 800th-anniversary commemoration also coincides with the 40th anniversary of the landmark 1986 interreligious peace meeting convened in Assisi by Saint John Paul II. Organizers emphasize that Saint Francis’s message of divine love and hope remains timeless, continuing to serve as a beacon for all generations, including young Catholics inspired by figures like Blessed Carlo Acutis, who chose Assisi as his final resting place.