These Are the Most Important Moments During the Extraordinary Month of Exposition of the Mortal Remains of Saint Francis of Assisi
The Sacred Convent of St. Francis of Assisi is preparing for the first prolonged public exposition of Saint Francis's mortal remains from February 21 to March 22, 2026. The exposition begins on February 21 with the transfer of the coffin to the lower church, presided over by Cardinal Angel Fernández Artime and broadcast live on Rai1. Numerous diocesan pilgrimages are scheduled throughout the month, requiring prior reservation for access to Eucharistic celebrations in the Basilica. A Franciscan Youth Encounter focused on 'Sister Death' is scheduled for March 14-15, expecting around 400 young participants. The concluding solemn Eucharistic celebration on March 22 will be presided over by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference.
26 days ago
The Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Assisi is hosting the first prolonged public exposition of Saint Francis's mortal remains from February 21 to March 22, 2026.1
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected, with a packed calendar of liturgical, spiritual, and cultural events.1
On February 21 at 4:00 p.m., Cardinal Angel Fernández Artime, Papal Legate, will transfer the saint's coffin from the crypt to the lower church, broadcast live on Rai1.1
The next day, February 22, he will preside over Holy Mass in the upper church at 11:00 a.m., also live on Rai1.1
Diocesan pilgrimages led by bishops require reservations via sanfrancescovive.org, as access is limited.1
The exposition concludes on March 22 at 5:00 p.m. with a solemn Mass led by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference.1
The Franciscan Youth Encounter, "Sister Death: An Experience to Discard," is scheduled for March 14-15, drawing about 400 young people from Italy.1
It focuses on prayer, reflection, and Franciscan values, with registration via giovaniversoassisi.it or contacts provided.1
Free concerts in the upper church, subject to availability, include:1
Examine Catholic liturgical practice during saintly relic expositions
Catholic liturgical practice surrounding the exposition of saints' relics prioritizes authentic veneration rooted in faith, ensuring dignity, preventing abuses like superstition or trafficking, and harmonizing popular piety with approved liturgical norms. Key elements include verifying relic authenticity, permitting processions and public displays under episcopal oversight, allowing specific Masses and Offices for major relics of Blesseds, and prohibiting placement on the altar mensa or commercialization. These practices underscore the Church's tradition of honoring saints as witnesses to Christ's sacrifice while safeguarding against excesses.
Before any exposition, the Church mandates certainty about a relic's authenticity, as human remains or objects associated with saints demand respect consonant with their ecclesial recognition. Pastoral instruction is essential: doubtful relics must be withdrawn discreetly, and the faithful admonished against collecting fragments, which has led to deplorable consequences in the past. For relics of Blesseds or Saints, public cultus—such as expositions—is permitted only according to current liturgical norms, particularly during translations or pilgrimages outside their customary locations. Diocesan bishops play a crucial role, granting agreement for relic pilgrimages and ensuring no fraud or superstition arises. This framework aligns with canon law's broader principles on ecclesiastical customs, which cannot contradict divine or canon law.
Expositions foster deep reverence among the faithful through practices like kissing relics, adorning them with lights and flowers, and bearing them in processions. These are not mere folk customs but are harmonized with liturgy, symbolizing the saints' communion with Christ's sacrifice. Relics may be taken to the sick or dying for comfort and intercession, provided this occurs with great dignity and faith-motivated intent. For images or relics honored with great reverence, alienation or permanent transfer requires Apostolic See permission, preserving their role in public veneration. Such expositions echo ancient traditions, like those of the Holy Coat of Trier, where relics were solemnly displayed to princes and pilgrims, often linked to plenary indulgences granted by papal bulls.
While relics themselves are not the focus of Eucharistic exposition rites, specific liturgical celebrations accompany major relic expositions, especially for Blesseds. During pilgrimages of a Blessed's body, most of the body, or heart, the organizing authority may request permission from the Dicastery for Divine Worship for Masses and Divine Office in honor of the Blessed at hosting churches, valid only for the duration of the visit. Approved texts from the Roman Missal's Common, Lectionary, or Liturgy of the Hours are used; if unavailable, formularies from the Common suffice. This ad hoc liturgical veneration underscores that Blessed relics warrant cultus akin to saints but under strict regulation. Fixed altars preserve the tradition of enclosing relics beneath them during dedication, linking the saints' sacrifice to the altar's. No relics, however, may be placed on the altar's mensa, reserved for Christ's Body and Blood.
Liturgical gestures during relic expositions parallel those for the Blessed Sacrament or True Cross relics. All faithful genuflect—bending both knees—before unveiled relics deserving adoration, such as during public expositions. For relics like the True Cross exposed for veneration, the same honor applies. Clergy in choir or prelates substitute inclinations of the head and shoulders. Mass servers genuflect only if the relic is at the altar of celebration. These norms, refined over centuries, distinguish relic veneration from pagan or imperial customs, rooting it in Christian worship.
The Church strictly forbids selling sacred relics outright, with significant ones requiring Vatican approval for any transfer. Dispersal into tiny pieces is discouraged, as relics must be of sufficient size to clearly be human body parts. Local ordinaries must remove inappropriate images or relics prone to error or superstition. Pious bequests for Church goods, including relics, follow civil formalities where possible, binding heirs to the testator's intent. These rules prevent relics from becoming commodities, aligning with canon law's deference to civil laws unless contrary to divine or ecclesiastical norms.
Expositions have long integrated liturgy and pilgrimage. The Holy Coat of Trier, displayed from 1512 amid imperial diets, prompted annual expositions until 1517, then septennial ones per Pope Leo X's 1515 bull, coinciding with Aachen pilgrimages and offering plenary indulgences. A special Mass "de Tunica inconutili" was composed, appearing in missals. Wars disrupted but did not end this, with the relic safeguarded and re-exhibited post-conflicts. Such history illustrates expositions as occasions for unified prayer, blending relic veneration with sacramental life.
In summary, Catholic practice during saintly relic expositions balances fervent piety with liturgical precision: authenticate rigorously, venerate through dignified rites and processions, celebrate approved Masses for Blesseds, observe reverent gestures, and heed prohibitions against abuse. This fosters saints as models of fidelity, drawing the faithful deeper into Christ's Paschal Mystery.