Assisi: St. Francis of Assisi, Italy’s patron saint and one of Christianity’s most revered figures, has gone on public display in the central Italian town of Assisi to commemorate 800 years since his death.
Church and Italian officials said around 400,000 pilgrims and visitors from across the globe have reserved slots to view the saint’s remains, which are being exhibited at the lower church of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. The public display will continue until March 22.
The 13th-century skeleton has rarely been seen, having previously been shown to the public only once, for a single day in 1978, and then to a limited audience. Born in Assisi in 1181 or 1182, St. Francis renounced his wealthy upbringing to live a life of poverty and service. He founded the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as the Franciscans, and became known for his devotion to the poor, as well as his love for animals and nature.
Today, St. Francis is regarded as the patron saint of animals and the environment. The Feast of St. Francis is observed annually on October 4, marking the anniversary of his death in 1226. His legacy of humility and compassion continues to influence the Roman Catholic Church and millions of faithful worldwide.
The late Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for more than a decade, chose his papal name in honour of the saint and sought to model his leadership on St. Francis’s ideals of simplicity and care for the marginalised. Officials expect the rare exhibition to draw one of the largest pilgrimages to Assisi in recent decades, underscoring the enduring global devotion to the medieval saint.
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