Puglia celebrates 800 years since the death of San Francesco

Museums, archives, and libraries across the Puglia ecclesiastical region have launched a series of programs titled “Nel segno di Francesco” to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. The regional initiative uses various dioceses to promote the history and message of the saint through art, music, history, and education.

The program includes documentary exhibitions, concerts, scientific conferences, and educational workshops. These activities aim to show the cultural and spiritual impact of the saint on the history of Puglia.

Bishop Giuseppe Russo, Bishop of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti and delegate for cultural heritage and religious buildings for the Puglia Episcopal Conference, said the collaboration between museums, archives, and libraries provides a way to rediscover how the spiritual legacy of St. Francis influenced the culture and history of local diocesan communities. He noted that opening these cultural institutions offers a way to reflect on charity, peace, and the care of creation.