On March 22, 2026, at 6:45 p.m., the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi closed its main doors to mark the end of the first extended public exposition of the mortal remains of St. Francis. The Exposition was an extraordinary event linked to the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis and was part of the ongoing Franciscan Jubilee celebrations.
The friars of the Sacred Convent conducted a private ceremony to mark the occasion; the bells of the Basilica rang out, and the month of public veneration of the Saint’s mortal remains was officially concluded.
The exposition began on February 21, 2026, with the reopening of the sarcophagus in the crypt of the Basilica. This was carried out in the presence of the Franciscan community and ecclesiastical authorities. It represented an eminently ecclesial act. The exposition was not a devotional or aesthetic display, but a living memory restored to view, capable of challenging faith and tradition.
The reinterment rite conducted in the evening formally ended the month-long veneration in the lower church of the Basilica. It capped a day that included a 5:00 p.m. Mass celebrated in the upper church, presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Matteo Maria ZUPPI, Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference. The Mass was broadcast live on Tv2000 (an Italian Catholic television station) and streamed on Play2000 (a digital platform). During the month of veneration, over 350,000 pilgrims, from Italy and countries around the world, came to Assisi to pause in prayer before the body of the Saint. The rite of reinterment began at 9:30 p.m., with the ringing of the bells of the Basilica. The ceremony was presided over by the Most Reverend Domenico SORRENTINO, Bishop Emeritus of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, Italy. Only the friars of the Sacred Convent attended.
It was a private, intimate, and moving ceremony that profoundly affected the friars gathered around the mortal remains of their founder and father. The brief yet intense ceremony began with a reading of the Gospel parable of the seed (John 12), which serves as the theological and spiritual key to interpreting the entire exposition, along with St. Francis’ Sixth Admonition. It then continued with a procession of all the friars present, followed by the transfer of the relics to the crypt, and concluded with the solemn blessing of the bishop.
Another deeply moving moment was the friars’ singing of the exposition hymn On This Hill—with text by Friar Marco MORONI and music by Friar Peter HRDY—accompanied by each friar’s “final homage” to the Saint’s remains. After the plexiglass case was placed back inside the gilded bronze urn, the documentation required by canon law was also inserted; the casket was then locked at around 10:30 p.m. This was followed by the sealing of the metal urn, its placement inside the stone sarcophagus in the pillar beneath the high altar, and the welding of the seals on the metal grate enclosing it. The entire process concluded around 11:30 p.m.
The friar community once again thanks the staff of the General Custody of the Sacred Convent, as well as the volunteers, institutions, and supporters who, in various ways, made this profound shared experience of fraternity, prayer, and solidarity possible—an experience inspired by love for St. Francis of Assisi.
Friar Giulio CESAREO, OFM Conv., Director of the Office of Communications for the Sacred Convent, also expressed his gratitude, saying, “I would like to thank the Office of Communications, which, on behalf of our Franciscan community, recorded the important moments during this month.”
Work is underway during these first few days of the week to restore the lower church and crypt to their usual state of full accessibility for pilgrims and tourists.
Full accessibility is expected to resume on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Press Office of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis
General Office of Communications
