Assisi to welcome thousands of pilgrims for 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death

Assisi will host thousands of pilgrims from October 3 to 4 to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis. The celebrations include a solemn Mass on the saint's feast day, October 4, which Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, will celebrate. Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, the papal legate for the basilicas of Assisi, will attend the Mass. Italian President Sergio Mattarella is also scheduled to visit the city on October 4.

The anniversary activities began on September 24 and continue through October 5. Scheduled events include cultural programs, charitable initiatives, and a traditional procession at the Porziuncola. A central part of the observance is the Transitus, which commemorates the final hours of St. Francis before he died.

Bishop Felice Accrocca of Assisi said the saint's radical interpretation of the Gospel and his focus on peace, fraternity, and hope continue to attract people from various cultures. He noted that Francis' work regarding interfaith dialogue, peace, and care for the environment remains relevant to modern concerns.