Long lines of pilgrims and tourists queued Sunday outside the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi to see the saint’s remains now on public display. For the first time in nearly eight centuries, the general public can view the bones of Saint Francis of Assisi, one of the Catholic Church’s most famous saints and the patron of Italy.
The coffin, which had been kept in a stone sarcophagus in the basilica’s crypt for centuries, was moved into the lower church on Saturday and placed near the altar in a plexiglass case. The case is available for visitors to approach and touch the outer surface. Apart from occasional exhumations for inspection and scientific study, the bones were previously shown to a very limited audience only once, for one day in 1978.
The temporary display runs through March 22. The Franciscan Order says nearly 400,000 people from around the world have registered to attend the viewing. The event marks the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis’ death and is part of broader commemorations that will continue in Italy beyond the month-long exhibition.
Francis, born around 1181, gave up a life of wealth to found the Franciscan Order and devote himself to serving the poor. After his death, his coffin was buried in a hidden location. In 1818, Pope Pius VII permitted the Franciscans to open the tomb, and a new crypt was built in the lower church to house the sarcophagus.
Officials say the public display is both a devotional opportunity for believers and a rare chance for visitors and scholars to see relics that have been largely inaccessible for centuries. In Italy, celebrations surrounding Saint Francis will continue; last year the government reinstated October 4, his feast day, as a public holiday, to take effect in 2026.