St. Francis Remains on Display After 800 Years

Pilgrims lined up outside the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi this weekend for a chance most thought impossible: to see the actual remains of the beloved saint who died 800 years ago.

The bones of Saint Francis, patron saint of Italy, have rested hidden in a stone sarcophagus since 1226. On Saturday, church officials ceremoniously moved the coffin from its crypt to the lower church, where it now sits in a plexiglass case near the altar.

The display runs through March 22, giving visitors one month to witness this extraordinary moment. Apart from scientific examinations and one limited viewing in 1978 for a small group, these remains have never been accessible to the general public.

The response has been overwhelming. The Franciscan Order reports that nearly 400,000 people from across the globe have already registered to attend, creating lines that stretched through the central Italian town.

Visitors are even permitted to touch the outer glass case, creating an intimate connection with a figure who lived more than 800 years ago. Many pilgrims describe the experience as deeply moving and spiritual.

Francis of Assisi was born around 1181 into wealth but famously renounced everything to serve the poor. His radical compassion and devotion to simplicity inspired the founding of the Franciscan Order, which continues his mission today.

After his death, followers buried his coffin in a secret location to protect it. The tomb remained hidden until 1818, when Pope Pius VII granted permission for its discovery and a new crypt was built in the basilica's lower church.

Why This Inspires

This rare display represents more than historical curiosity. It connects modern believers with the physical legacy of a man whose message of peace, poverty, and care for creation still resonates today.

The celebration continues beyond March, with Italy reinstating October 4, the feast day of St. Francis, as a national public holiday. It's a recognition that his example of radical kindness and service to others remains as needed now as it was eight centuries ago.

Hundreds of thousands crossing oceans and continents for this moment proves that hope, compassion, and selflessness never go out of style.