Assisi to welcome thousands of pilgrims for 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death
Assisi will host thousands of pilgrims on Oct. 3–4 for celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death, with Italy’s president expected to attend on Oct. 4. The Sept. 24–Oct. 5 program includes liturgies, cultural events, charitable initiatives, a procession at the Porziuncola, and the traditional Transitus observance. Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi will celebrate a solemn Mass, while Assisi’s Bishop Felice Accrocca says St. Francis’ teachings on peace, fraternity, and care for creation remain relevant today. The anniversary follows an exposition of St. Francis’ remains that drew nearly 400,000 pilgrims and coincides with the 40th anniversary of the interfaith peace gathering convened in Assisi by St. John Paul II.
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Assisi will host the main observances of the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death on Oct. 3–4, with thousands of pilgrims expected. The wider program, running Sept. 24 through Oct. 5, includes religious services, cultural events, charitable initiatives and a procession at the Porziuncola. 1
On Oct. 4, the saint’s feast day, Italy’s president, Sergio Mattarella, is expected in Assisi. Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, will celebrate a solemn Mass; Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, papal legate for the basilicas of Assisi, will attend. 1
A central observance will be the “Transitus,” which commemorates Francis’ final hours. The program also includes the traditional procession dedicated to the saint at the Porziuncola. 1
Assisi’s new bishop, Felice Accrocca, described the anniversary as a journey between remembrance and the future, saying that Francis’ example can help people understand the present. He pointed to the saint’s teachings on peace, fraternity, interfaith dialogue and care for the common home as concerns that remain relevant. 1
Fraternity is another theme of the celebrations. Friar Marco Moroni, custos of the Sacred Convent, said the community includes more than 50 friars from around 20 countries and presents a practical example of people from diverse cultures living together. 1
The October events follow a large turnout earlier in the year: the exposition of Francis’ mortal remains in February and March drew nearly 400,000 pilgrims, according to figures reported at a press conference. 1
The commemorations also coincide with the 40th anniversary of the interfaith gathering for peace convened in Assisi by St. John Paul II in 1986, when representatives of different religions gathered to pray for peace. Carlo Acutis, who was not from Assisi, also chose to be buried there. 1*
Franciscan spirituality grounds peace, fraternity, and ecological responsibility
Franciscan spirituality links peace, fraternity, and care for creation through a single Christian vision: conversion to Christ, humility, and recognition that all life is received from God.
St. Francis’s “minority”—choosing the lowly, serving rather than dominating—shapes fraternity as humble encounter with God, other people, and creation. It invites a way of relating that crosses divisions and treats others not as rivals or instruments but as brothers and sisters.
That fraternity has a demanding consequence for peace. Franciscan peace is not merely the absence of conflict: it entails practising the Gospel of peace and love, including forgiveness and reconciliation. The Church’s account of Francis also emphasizes that respect for people of different religions must be joined to fidelity to Christ, not confused with religious indifference.
The same vision extends to the natural world. Francis saw creatures as gifts that reveal something of the Creator, calling them “brother” and “sister.” This reverence resists treating nature as an object to exploit without limits; it fosters sobriety, care, and wise use of creation’s goods.
These commitments belong together. Pope Francis describes concern for nature, justice for the poor, social responsibility, and inner peace as inseparable. In this sense, Franciscan ecological responsibility is more than environmental concern alone: it is a way of life shaped by gratitude, simplicity, solidarity, and respect for both human beings and the rest of creation.