- Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special Jubilee year on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226).
The Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See, the Vatican tribunal that deals with matters of conscience, has issued a decree published by the Franciscan friars on January 10, declaring a year of celebration in honor of the poverello, or the little poor man, as he is called.
According to the decree, Pope Leo has established that, from January 10, after the closing of the Church's Holy Year, until January 10, 2027, a special Year of the Church will be proclaimed for San Francisco, The event, in which every Christian, “following the example of the saint of Assisi, will become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace”.
Culmination of previous celebrations
Previous jubilee celebrations related to the works of St. Francis of Assisi have been taken into account, such as the commemorations of the eighth centenary of the first nativity scene (also called crib or nativity), as well as his composition of the ‘Canticle of the Creatures’ and the reception of the stigmata. Therefore, the decree states that “the year 2026 will mark the culmination and conclusion of all the above celebrations.”.
Plenary indulgence with the usual conditions
In its decree, the Apostolic Penitentiary also announced that the following will be granted plenary indulgence to Catholics «under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the intentions of the Holy Father), applicable also in the form of suffrage for the souls in Purgatory».
The indulgence will be granted to those who participate in a pilgrimage to “any Franciscan conventual church, or place of worship anywhere in the world dedicated to St. Francis or related to him for any reason,” it said.
The sick, the elderly, and those who care for them, as well as all those who are unable to leave their homes can also obtain a plenary indulgence, “provided they detach themselves from any sin” and intend to fulfill “the three usual conditions” as soon as possible.
Provided that they unite themselves “spiritually to the Jubilee celebrations of the Year of St. Francis, offering to the merciful God their prayers, the pains or sufferings of their lives”.
The Franciscan friars invite to participate
In a communiqué announcing the promulgation of the decree, the Franciscan friars invited Catholics to participate in the Jubilee celebrations. And they expressed their hope that the example of St. Francis of Assisi would inspire the participants «to live with authentic Christian charity towards their neighbor and with sincere yearnings for concord and peace among peoples.».
May this Franciscan Year «be for each one of us a providential occasion of sanctification and evangelical witness in the contemporary world, for the glory of God and the good of the whole Church,» the communiqué reads.
Pope Leo: his message of peace more necessary than ever
In a Letter On January 10, addressed to the Ministers General of the Conference of the Franciscan Family, Pope Leo said that St. Francis' message of peace was more necessary than ever.
“In this age, marked by so many wars that seem endless, by internal and social divisions that create distrust and fear, he continues to speak. Not because he offers technical solutions, but because his life points to the authentic source of peace,” the Pope wrote.
That peace, the Pope added, “is not limited to relationships between human beings, but embraces the whole of creation,” but extends to «the entire family of Creation.”.
The courage to build bridges
“This intuition resonates with particular urgency in our time, when the common home is threatened and groans under exploitation,” he wrote. “Peace with God, peace among human beings and with Creation are inseparable dimensions of a single call to universal reconciliation.”.
Pope Leo concluded his letter with a prayer to St. Francis, asking the saint's intercession to grant us “the courage to build bridges where the world erects borders.”.
Beginning of the Franciscan Jubilee Year in Assisi
“In this time afflicted by conflicts and divisions, intercede that we may become artisans of peace: unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ,” the Pope wrote.
The Pope's letter was read during a Jan. 10 celebration marking the beginning of the Franciscan Jubilee Year at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi, which houses the Chapel of the Transitus, marking the place where St. Francis died.
Bishop Sorrentino: rediscovering St. Francis
Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi, who was present at the ceremony, said that the beginning of the centenary celebration was “an explosion of true joy” that springs from the heart and “from the commitment of each one of us to rediscover Francis in all his dimensions.”.
First public exposure of your body
“The desire I have for everyone and for the whole Church is to rediscover this saint of ours, to rediscover Jesus, the only source of joy and peace,” the bishop said.
Among the notable events that will take place in Assisi during the Franciscan Jubilee Year is the first public exposition of the body of St. Francis.
In October, the Basilica of St. Francis announced that Pope Leo had granted permission to expose the saint's body from February 22 to March 26.
250,000 pilgrims already registered to venerate his remains
According to the basilica's website dedicated to this historic event, as of December some 250,000 pilgrims had registered to venerate the remains of St. Francis.
The overwhelming number of people who will attend the public exhibition, according to the basilica, is a testament to “the universality of the message of the saint of Assisi and the timeless appeal of his figure.”.
A free but mandatory online booking system has been set up on the centenary website, available in Italian and English.
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Junno Arocho Esteves is an international correspondent for OSV News. Follow him on X @jae_journalist.
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