The Remains Of Saint Francis To Be Displayed On The 800Th Anniversary Of The Animal-Lover’s Death

The Remains Of Saint Francis To Be Displayed On The 800Th Anniversary Of The Animal-Lover’s Death

The mortal remains of Saint Francis of Assisi are to be placed in public view as a tremendous invitation to prayer and gratitude 800 years after the man’s death.

Having been sealed in a reliquary beneath the Basilica bearing his name in Assisi, Umbria, for hundreds of years, they’ve never been on display for the millions of pilgrims that visit the city.

But with recent approval from the Holy Father Leo XIV, his remains will be transferred from the tomb below the Basilica to the foot of the Papal altar in the lower church from February 22nd, to March 22nd, 2026.

“This exposition, rooted in the Gospel theme of the seed that dies to bear fruit in love and fraternity, invites us to reflect on the life of the Saint, which continues to bear fruit 800 years later and still inspires humanity along the path of peace, fraternity, service to the poor, joy, and care for creation,” reads a statement from the Sacro Convento, reported by Vatican News.

The patron saint of Italy, of animals, and of the home of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francesco is one of the most important figures of the Catholic Church, and “one of the foundational figures of Italian identity.”

Those were the words Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose government recently saw a bill passed successfully through Parliament to designate the feast day of Saint Francis (October 4th) as a national civic holiday.

Born in 1181 or ’82, and passing away in 1226, Saint Francis founded the Order of Friar’s Minor, one of the longest monastic orders in Catholicism. His monastic life was characterized with a unerring love and duty of care for all of God’s creations, including animals, which of course isn’t necessarily ordained by the covenant with God.

Important theologians, including Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, reinforced the longest-standing position on animal welfare and ecology in Christianity that animals are part of God’s creation but are not equal to Man; and that in fact, Man is called to subdue the Earth, all that dwells upon it, and bring them under his dominion.

But starting with St. Francis, multiple saints, including his disciple Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Brendan, Saint Brigit, and Saint Columba, preached to, protected, or taught on the care and protection of the natural world.

San Francesco’s love of nature extended beyond animals, and included “Sister Moon, Brother Sun,” the four cardinal elements, and even “Sister Death.” In short, the Francis doctrine called Man to look after Creation as a whole, and that for this reason, noted the recently-deceased Pope Francis who took his Papal name from the Saint, he is loved by millions of non-Christians who recognize that the dominion of Man over of the Earth is that of a good steward, not an exploitative tyrant.

Visitors are expected to flock to Assisi for the exposition, entitled “San Francesco Lives,” and while free of charge, visitors and pilgrims are asked to reserve their entrance time at the Basilica, which GNN can report first hand is not exceptionally large.