Last January 10, the solemn opening rite of the VIII Centenary of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi took place in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi in Porziuncola. The “transitus” is the liturgical celebration that commemorates the death of the Saint, that is, the passage from earthly life to eternal life, which occurred on the night between 3 and 4 October 1226, at the Porziuncola in Assisi.
For the occasion, the oldest painting of Saint Francis, preserved in the Porziuncola Museum and depicting his stigmata, was displayed in the Basilica. At the conclusion of the celebration, Pope Leo XIV's words, addressed to the General Ministers of the Franciscan Family, were read. The Pontiff emphasized how the witness of Saint Francis remains a living and timely example in an era ravaged by war and social division. The Holy Father invites the faithful to entrust themselves to the "poor man of Assisi" so that he may guide them on the path of peace and reconciliation.
It was finally announced the promulgation of the Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, which establishes a Jubilee Year special, on the occasion of the commemoration of the eighth centenary of the passing of the Saint.
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has established that, from January 10, 2026, coinciding with the conclusion of the Ordinary Jubilee, until January 10, 2027, a special Jubilee Year dedicated to Saint Francis be proclaimed. In this Year, all faithful of the Catholic Church are called to become models of holiness and witnesses of peace. The faithful may obtain a plenary indulgence by visiting, in the form of a pilgrimage, Franciscan churches, convents, and shrines located anywhere in the world, provided they seek the remission of sins through sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father. The elderly and the sick, unable to make the pilgrimage for serious reasons, may also benefit from a plenary indulgence by spiritually joining in prayer.
This is an epochal event, which attests to the profound devotion to the most beloved saint by Italians.
In conjunction with these two historic events, from February 22nd to March 22nd 2026, the first public display of the remains of Saint Francis will be held in Assisi, in the lower church of the Basilica of Saint Francis (which will be free of charge upon reservation, due to the high influx of pilgrims).
Saint Francis it has been proclaimed patron saint of Italy, Together with Saint Catherine of Siena, on June 18, 1939, Pope Pius XII named it "a symbol of national identity" because of the popular devotion that fueled the cult. The Pontiff, borrowing a famous phrase from Vincenzo Gioberti, defined it as: The holiest of Italians, the most Italian of saints." He was a charismatic, mystical and revolutionary saint in his extreme choice to marry " “Our Lady Poverty”. Francis, the scion of a wealthy family, chose to strip himself of all his possessions, embracing a humble life, dedicated to charity, brotherhood, and respect for nature and animals. His " Canticle of the Creatures”, His first literary work in the Umbrian vernacular, it is a hymn to his love for all of Creation, in all its animate and inanimate forms. It is no coincidence that in 1979, it was proclaimed by John Paul II "Patron of ecology and ecologists", Why:" He honored nature as a wonderful gift given by God to mankind.”
Recently, in October 2025, the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, promulgated a law establishing October 4th as a national holiday dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. Starting in 2026, the holiday will be considered not only a religious holiday, but also a solemn civil holiday.
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