Vatican presents 800th anniversary celebrations of Saint Francis' death

Vatican officials presented a schedule of events on September 17 to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. The presentation took place at the Palazzo Pio.

The celebrations include a visit by Italian President Mattarella to Assisi on October 4. During the press conference, Archbishop Felice Accrocca, the bishop of Assisi, Nocera Umbra, Gualdo Tadino, and Foligno, said the teachings of Francis remain relevant because they represent a radical reading of the Gospel.

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, the archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, attended the presentation alongside other local leaders. Stefania Proietti, president of the Umbria region, announced that a new pediatric center will be established in the region and named after the saint.