Day: Feb 23, 2026

The story of the tomb of St. Francis, hidden for centuries beneath the main altar, lends an almost mystical undertone to this new era. After his death in 1226, the body was carefully hidden to avoid theft or desecration. It was only discovered in 1818, after a long search, and since then, several verifications have been carried out — most recently in 2015 –, which confirmed the authenticity and good state of preservation of the relics. Those bones, marked by the suffering and wounds of the Crucified One, are the physical echo of a life spent for love. The Basilica of St. Francis will become, during that month, the spiritual heart of the world. A massive influx of pilgrims from all Continents is expected. To guarantee a serene and prayerful experience, a free and mandatory reservation system has been established through the website http://www.sanfrancescovive.org, which is available in several languages.