Franciscan Routes
2026, the Year of the Franciscan Centenary
2026 marks a special anniversary for Italy and for all those who look to the figure of Saint Francis of Assisi as a source of spiritual and human inspiration. Eight hundred years after his death, the year is dedicated to the Centenary of the Passing of Saint Francis, an anniversary that invites people to rediscover the message of the saint who, more than any other, showed the world the power of peace, fraternity, and respect for creation.
The calendar of celebrations opened on January 10, 2026, in Assisi, at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, in front of the Porziuncola. It was here, in 1226, that Francis concluded his earthly journey in the chapel now known as the Chapel of the Transit (Cappella del Transito), welcoming death as a passage toward full life, with the simplicity that always characterized his existence.
The opening of the Centenary is not merely a historical commemoration. It marks the beginning of a year that looks toward the present and the future, presenting the Poverello as a guide for our time. Indeed, his message continues to speak to a society seeking dialogue, balance with nature, and a renewed focus on human dignity.
A year of events blending spirituality, culture, and hospitality
The Centenary involves not only Assisi but the entire Umbria region and the most significant sites of Franciscan life. Alongside the saint’s birthplace, Greccio and La Verna also participate in this anniversary journey, forming an ideal itinerary that spans the most important moments of Francis's history.
Throughout 2026, a schedule of pilgrimages, religious celebrations, cultural meetings, exhibitions, and events will showcase Franciscan spirituality through diverse languages. It is a program designed to engage believers and visitors from all over the world, in a dialogue that unites faith, art, history, and nature.
This anniversary also represents an important opportunity to discover or rediscover the Umbrian territory, which has preserved the saint’s legacy for centuries. Villages, sanctuaries, woodlands, and Franciscan paths become stops on a journey that is both cultural and inward.
Francis’s message for today’s world
The heart of the Centenary is the message that Saint Francis continues to convey after eight centuries. His life tells of a radical choice of simplicity and fraternity, capable of overcoming divisions and speaking to diverse cultures.
His vision of a world founded on peace and respect for creation resonates today with particular strength. In a time marked by conflicts and global transformations, the figure of the Saint of Assisi invites us to refocus on what truly matters: the care of relationships, attention to the most vulnerable, and harmony between humanity and nature.
The Heart of the Centenary
Throughout 2026, Assisi becomes the focal point of this great anniversary. The city welcomes pilgrims, travelers, and the curious who wish to draw closer to the history and spirit of Francis in the places that preserve his memory.
From the Porziuncola to the Basilica of Saint Francis, from medieval streets to the paths crossing Mount Subasio, every corner tells a story that has continued to speak to the world for eight centuries.
The Franciscan Centenary is, therefore, much more than an anniversary. It is an invitation to set out on a journey—both physically and inwardly—following the footsteps of a figure who transformed his own era and who, even today, continues to point the way toward simplicity, peace, and fraternity.
