For the first time in history, the ossuary containing the remains of St. Francis of Assisi has been placed on public display for worshippers and visitors in the basilica that bears his name , in the city of Assisi, in the heart of Italy. The initiative is part of the commemorations for the 800th anniversary of the saint's death and will be on display for a limited time of just one month.
The opening of the reliquary has generated massive excitement, with hundreds of thousands of reservations registered from across Italy and abroad. For many European pilgrims, the occasion is seen as a unique opportunity to connect directly with the figure of the Umbrian saint, considered one of the great spiritual figures of Christianity.
A historic ceremony in the basilica of Assisi
At 4:00 p.m. on Saturday , the remains of Saint Francis were removed from their usual resting place in the basilica's crypt and carefully transferred to the foot of the papal altar in the lower church. The ceremony, rich in symbolism and solemnity, was presided over by Spanish Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime and attended by the Franciscan community and numerous faithful.
The opening of the tomb and the preparation of the urn were preceded by an inspection carried out weeks earlier, led by local ecclesiastical authorities, including Monsignor Domenico Sorrentino , Bishop of the Diocese of Assisi. According to the Franciscans, the exhumation in the crypt was conducted with profound reverence, in an atmosphere of silence and prayer.
The saint's body has been kept for decades in a sealed Plexiglas display case , which until now remained hidden inside the stone tomb. For the current exhibition, this display case has been removed from its protective metal case and positioned so that visitors can view it directly, although without any physical contact with the remains.
Resting on a white silk cloth is the small skeleton of Francis, whose skull shows damage attributed to the relocations carried out in the 13th century, when his relics were taken to the new basilica built in his honor. The friars emphasize that the state of preservation is remarkable considering the passage of centuries.
Brother Giulio Cesareo , director of the communications office of the Sacred Convent of Assisi, explained that the exhibition has received the express approval of the Holy See, channeled through the Vatican Secretariat of State and the current pontiff, Pope Leo XIV. The exhibition is also part of a broader program of religious and cultural celebrations for the Franciscan anniversary.
A message that speaks to believers and non-believers alike.
For the Franciscans, the significance of this opening lies not only in its devotional impact, but also in the spiritual and human meaning that emerges from such humble remains. Friar Giulio Cesareo has emphasized that it is precisely in the apparent simplicity of “these few bones, so deteriorated and consumed,” that Francis’s total self-giving is powerfully perceived.
The priest emphasizes that this is not a spectacle or a production designed as a tourist attraction , but rather an experience intended for inner reflection. In fact, he stressed that the basilica will not be illuminated like a stadium nor transformed into a film set: the idea is for visitors to simply encounter the figure of Francis, without artifice.
The convent's administrators insist that the exhibition can be meaningful for believers and non-believers alike , as the testimony of a life marked by renunciation and poverty speaks to anyone who approaches it with even a modicum of curiosity. The veneration of bones and relics, Cesareo reminds us, has been part of Christian tradition since the time of the catacombs, and is not seen as something macabre but as a living memory of the faith.
Among the pilgrims who have already visited Assisi, there are testimonies of great emotional depth. Many describe the visit as a brief but very intense moment , in which the saint's message is felt with particular immediacy. Some even stated that, before the reliquary, they felt "almost as if they were hearing" the voice of Francis through his legacy.
The figure of Saint Francis, an example of humility, simplicity, and service , remains especially influential in Europe. The son of a wealthy merchant, he renounced his privileges to embrace a life of radical poverty and closeness to the most needy, promoting a spirituality centered on the Gospel, fraternity, and care for creation.
How the saint's remains were found and verified
Although the tomb of Saint Francis in Assisi is well known today, the exact location of his remains was lost for centuries . After his death in 1226 and the subsequent construction of the basilica, his body was moved there in 1230, but the precise location was hidden by the ecclesiastical authorities of the time, who wanted to protect the burial site.
It wasn't until a long and discreet excavation campaign , carried out with great secrecy, that the remains were located. The discovery took place on the night of December 12-13, 1818, after 52 days of intensive work beneath the temple. From that moment on, the priority was to scientifically confirm that it was indeed the body of the saint of Assisi.
In 1819, the first official examination was carried out , which concluded that the bones found belonged to Saint Francis. On the occasion of the 750th anniversary of his death, in 1978, further analyses were conducted, which allowed for a more in-depth study of the skeleton's condition, its state of preservation, and some of the saint's physical characteristics.
Decades later, in 2015, a further study was conducted using more advanced techniques, which reinforced the scientific certainty regarding the identity of the remains. This work, in addition to confirming their authenticity, has provided supplementary information about the preservation conditions and the effects of time on the ossuary.
Despite these periodic examinations, the bones had never been directly exposed to public veneration . Only in 1978 were they displayed for a single day to a very small group of people, in a strictly controlled environment. The current opening, therefore, represents an unprecedented step in the public's relationship with the saint's tomb.
Safety, conservation and logistics in the face of the avalanche of worshippers
Organizing this exhibition has required the design of a special security and protection plan for both the remains and the visitors. It is expected that, throughout the month-long exhibition, approximately 15.000 people will visit the basilica daily on weekdays and up to 19.000 on weekends, with a total of nearly 400.000 reservations already registered.
To ensure the integrity of the ossuary, the Plexiglas display case in which the bones rest is kept hermetically sealed , without contact with the outside air. According to experts, from a conservation standpoint, the case replicates the same environmental conditions that existed inside the tomb, so the display should not cause any alterations to the skeleton.
In addition, a bulletproof and burglar-proof transparent glass reliquary has been placed on top of the plexiglass display case , allowing a full view of the remains while adding an extra layer of physical security. This system, along with 24-hour surveillance cameras, serves to prevent any attempt at tampering or theft.
The lighting inside the basilica has been regulated to prevent even the dim light from damaging the bones. Those in charge of the temple insist that the exhibition is not intended to be a spectacle, but rather a space for silence and prayer , and for this reason they have opted against more striking lighting or stage effects.
From a practical standpoint, access to the reliquary is organized in orderly lines of pilgrims who move smoothly, so that each person has a few moments to pause before the ossuary without large crowds forming. Even so, the queues can be long at certain times of day, especially on Sundays and holidays.
A massive influx of pilgrims from Italy and all over Europe
The response from the faithful and the curious has been overwhelming. From the early hours of the morning, long queues have formed outside the basilica , with visitors from various Italian regions and numerous European countries. Many have organized trips to Assisi specifically to coincide with the opening period, aware that this is an exceptional opportunity.
Authorities are already reporting nearly 400.000 people with advance reservations for this month, with peak attendance reaching up to 20.000 on the busiest weekends. These include numerous parish groups, religious communities, lay associations, and tourists who, while not particularly devout, are curious about the historical and cultural significance of the event.
Some accounts, such as that of a pilgrim from Verona, describe the visit as a once-in-a-lifetime event. The experience of standing face to face with the remains of one of the great spiritual figures of the West , they say, evokes a mixture of emotion, respect, and silence that is difficult to put into words.
The city of Assisi, already a hub for European religious tourism, has prepared for this temporary surge in visitors. Hotels, religious houses, and other accommodations have seen a spike in bookings, and the municipality has reinforced its transportation, information, and reception services to meet the demand.
Alongside visits to the basilica, many pilgrims take the opportunity to explore other places linked to the life of the saint, such as the church of San Damiano or the Porziuncola, as well as nearby sanctuaries where relics of more recent figures of holiness are preserved, including Carlo Acutis , a young Italian associated with evangelization on the internet.
Saint Francis of Assisi, a key figure for the Church and for Italy
The impact of this exhibition is best understood by recalling the weight that Saint Francis of Assisi holds in the religious and cultural history of Europe . Born in the 12th century, the young Francesco di Bernardone turned his life around after a profound conversion experience, traditionally associated with the words that, according to tradition, he heard from a crucifix in San Damiano: “Go and repair my house, which, as you see, is in ruins.”
From then on, he left behind the comfortable life he led as the son of a wealthy merchant and dedicated himself to a lifestyle marked by voluntary poverty, closeness to the poor, and obedience to the Gospel . His way of life attracted the attention of many contemporaries and gave rise to the Franciscan order, which spread rapidly throughout Europe.
Among the best-known episodes of his biography is his journey to Egypt in 1219, during the Fifth Crusade, where he attempted to engage in dialogue with Sultan Al-Kamil in a gesture of openness and a search for peace that was unusual for the time. He is also credited with creating the first living nativity scene, organized in Greccio in 1223 as a simple and visual way to celebrate Christmas.
Christian tradition also recognizes in him the first documented case of visible stigmata , that is, marks on the body associated with the wounds of Christ, which would have appeared during a mystical ecstasy in 1224. These elements have contributed to forging the image of Saint Francis as a mystic, peacemaker and friend of creation.
Patron saint of Italy along with Saint Catherine of Siena, his influence extends even to the contemporary Church. The pontiff known as Pope Francis, who died in 2025, was the first Pope to adopt the name of the saint of Assisi , precisely to emphasize the importance of evangelical poverty, fraternity, and care for our common home.
Civil recognitions and symbolic value for Italy and Europe
The significance of the Franciscan anniversary extends beyond the religious sphere. At the suggestion of the Italian government, Parliament has approved the reintroduction of October 4th as a public holiday in honor of Saint Francis, the country's patron saint. This holiday had been suppressed for almost half a century, so its return also carries significant social and cultural implications.
This institutional gesture reinforces the idea that Francis, beyond his spiritual dimension, embodies values cherished in contemporary Europe, such as the defense of peace, solidarity with the most vulnerable, and respect for nature . It is no coincidence that in many international contexts he is presented as a bridge between different cultures and sensibilities.
For Italy, the display of the relics in Assisi acts as a powerful tourist and religious attraction , adding to other major European pilgrimage sites. Numerous agencies and communities have organized specific routes, integrating visits to the reliquary with tours of other Franciscan sites on the peninsula.
Across Europe, the event is also seen as a reminder of the role of great spiritual figures in shaping the continent's identity. Extensive media coverage and the interest of faithful from various countries demonstrate that Francis's message remains relevant beyond borders and denominations.
At the close of this first stage of the exhibition, the general impression is that the opening of the ossuary has served not only to bring thousands of people physically closer to the remains of Saint Francis of Assisi , but also to rekindle the debate on the meaning of his legacy in the 21st century: a call to austerity, fraternity and peace that continues to resonate strongly in Italy, in Spain and throughout Europe.
