On Sunday, March 22, 2026, the extended public exposition of the mortal remains of St. Francis concludes in the lower church of the Basilica of St. Francis. The exposition opened on February 21, 2026, as part of the 800th anniversary of the Saint’s death (1226–2026).
During this month, marked by a deep spirit of prayer and reflection, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims—from Italy and around the world—have flocked to Assisi to pause before the body of the Saint. Their pilgrimage has become a shared act of devotion, revealing a living memory and a faith that is still fruitful. The exposition is part of the 2023-2026 Franciscan Jubilee celebrations that commemorate important events in the final years of the life of St. Francis.
At 3:30 p.m., a final press conference will be held in the Press Room of the Sacred Convent. It will be an opportunity to evaluate the exposition through the reflections and testimonies of those who participated in various ways. Speakers will include the Custos of the Sacred Convent, Friar Marco MORONI; the Econom of the Sacred Convent and Head of Logistics, Friar Riccardo GIACON; the Coordinator of the Basilica and the Volunteers, Friar Rafael NORMANDO; and the Director of the Office of Communications, Friar Giulio CESAREO. The press conference will be moderated by journalist Vania DE LUCA, Vatican correspondent for Tg3 (an Italian public television news program).
At 5:00 p.m., His Eminence Cardinal Matteo Maria ZUPPI, Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, will preside over a solemn Mass in the upper church of the Basilica. The Mass will mark the conclusion of the exposition and will be broadcast live on Tv2000 (an Italian Catholic television station) and streamed on Play2000 (a digital platform).
“We have been a fraternity gathered around Francis,” said Friar Marco MORONI. “A fraternity of three hundred and fifty thousand people gathered here, and many others around the world. A composed and prayerful fraternity, wishing to encounter—in the sign of poor and fragile bones—the full power of a life animated by the Holy Spirit, which continues to bear fruit. Thanks to all those who, in different ways, contributed to conceiving, organizing, and managing an event that far exceeded my imagination and expectations.”
Editorial Staff
