The tomb of Saint Francis of Assisi will be unsealed to display his remains to the public for the first time in 800 years. According to Vatican News, with Pope Leo’s approval, Saint Francis’ bones will be on display from Feb. 22 to March 22, 2026 in the basilica in Assisi, Italy for veneration, a form of respect given to saints. “The 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis will be a time of remembrance and renewal, a celebration of a life that ‘blossoms from the gift and offering of oneself,’ a seed ‘sown in the earth that continues to bear fruits of peace, faith, and love,’” the outlet wrote. His remains—consisting of arms and legs, the ribs, and parts of the skull—currently reside in a sealed glass urn beneath the basilica. A controlled nitrogen atmosphere prevents decay. St. Francis, who gave his name to Pope Francis, was born between 1181 and 1182. He died in 1226 and was canonized in 1228 by Pope Gregory IX, becoming one of the church’s most important saints and patron saint of animals, the environment, Italy and among many others, San Francisco. While his body was initially hidden to prevent desecration, his remains were rediscovered in 1818 during an excavation.
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