US Edition
St Francis of Assisi's Bones Go On Public Display
Nearly 400,000 pilgrims reserved visits to see St. Francis’s bones, displayed in a secure case to honor his 800th death anniversary and spread his message of peace.
- On Feb 22, the bones of St. Francis of Assisi go on public display at the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi until March 22, with nearly 400,000 registered visitors.
- To mark the 800th anniversary, Franciscan friars set a monthlong public exhibition of the relics to honour St. Francis of Assisi’s death, revive his message of peace and fraternity, and restore the October 4 public holiday later this year.
- Inside a nitrogen-filled Plexiglas case sealed within another bulletproof enclosure, the relics are preserved, while security personnel use 24-hour cameras, metal detectors, sniffer dogs, and plain-clothed officers.
- With hotels booked and services squeezed, Assisi faces major tourism pressure from the exhibition as about 400 volunteers help manage crowds and city hall runs shuttle service and new parking lots.
- Carlo Acutis's canonization has helped make Assisi a magnet for younger pilgrims and groups from Latin America, while the 1818 rediscovery of St. Francis's tomb deepens the exposition's spiritual meaning for the faithful and non-believers.
189 Articles
189 Articles
St. Francis’ of Assisi Relics Open to Public for First Time in 800 Years
Pilgrims gather in the Upper Church of the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, for Mass and to visit the relics of St. Francis exposed for public veneration Feb. 22, 2026. (Photo: OSV News/Courtney Mares) by Courtney Mares ASSISI, Italy (OSV News) – For the first time in eight centuries, the mortal remains of St. Francis of Assisi are being exposed for an extended period of public veneration, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from …
Relics are available to the public for the first time in almost eight centuries. Nearly 400 thousand people around the world have already enrolled for the exhibition, which lasts a month.
A long line of pilgrims and visitors formed outside the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy on Sunday as the saint's remains were put on public display for the first time.
On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the death of Francis of Assisi, the mortal remains are being displayed for the first time since 1978.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 41% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
