An 800-year silence broken: St. Francis’ relics open for extended veneration

St. Francis of Assisi’s bones are being displayed publicly for the first time, adding a new spiritual landmark to the Umbrian town linked to the medieval friar who inspired Pope Francis.

That’s a mixed blessing for Assisi Mayor Valter Stoppini, residents and the Franciscan friars who are organizing the monthlong display of relics to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death this year.

Already, nearly 400,000 people have registered to pray before the relics and Stoppini estimates the number could well reach a half-million before the bones go back into their tomb March 22.

His remains have only been seen in public once before - for a single day in 1978 to a very limited group of people.

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The skeleton of the saint was exhumed from its sarcophagus in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, in the central Italian town of Assisi, on Saturday morning.

A small army of 400 volunteers have been recruited to herd them through the medieval city’s cobblestone streets and into the lower Basilica of St. Francis to view the bones, which are held in a bulletproof glass box.

Visitors line up to see the bones of St. Francis in the basilica. AP Photo

Speaking to Vatican News,  Fr. Giulio Cesareo, director of the Communications Office of the Sacred Convent of Assisi, reflects on what this ancient gesture means for society today. He said, "Christians have always venerated relics, because the saints, especially the martyrs, are those who testified with their lives that the love of God fully embraced them, and God’s love is not something abstract; it involves the flesh."

"These people served the poor, prayed, fasted, loved others, and allowed themselves to be consumed by love for Christ. Christians have always venerated the lives of the saints because, in them, they saw the action of the Holy Spirit filling their flesh with this love. This is the context for venerating St. Francis’ relics," he further added.

CNN reports, A 13th-century Italian friar, Francis is the patron saint of Italy and was the founder of the Franciscan order of the Friars Minor. Nicknamed the Poverello (“Poor Little Man”), he is one of the most venerated figures in Roman Catholic history and is also commemorated by many Anglican and some Lutheran churches. Thousands of followers were drawn to the saint by his charisma, his evangelical zeal and his commitment to poverty and charity.

He renounced his wealth and devoted his life to the poor, founding the order of the Franciscans. He is also the patron saint of animals and the environment. The Feast of St Francis is celebrated annually on 4 October to mark the day of his death in 1226.

As per Associated Press, St. Francis’ remains have been periodically inspected over the years by the Franciscan friars to ensure their conservation, this is the first time they are going on display publicly.

Officials say, "The decision to remove them from the crypt and welcome pilgrims for a month is a means to keep his message alive and give Christians a chance to pray before them."

This development will lead to a massive uptick in tourism in the area. To cope with the influx, city hall has created new parking lots outside the city center and runs a shuttle service to bring people into town.

The Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a cornerstone of Italian religious tourism, drawing millions of pilgrims and tourists annually to the Umbria region.

Its profound impact stems from its dual role as a major spiritual center containing St. Francis's tomb and an artistic masterpiece featuring frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue.

With inputs from agencies