Bones of St Francis of Assisi go on public display in Italy

1 hour agoJack BurgessEPAThe skeleton is being displayed in a nitrogen-filled plexiglass case in front of the alter at the lower church of Assisi's basilicaThe remains of Italy's patron saint, St Francis of Assisi, have gone on public display to mark 800 years since his death.Italian officials say about 400,000 people from around the world have reserved a place to see his bones in the central Italian town of Assisi.The 13th Century skeleton is being displayed from Sunday at the lower church of the famous Basilica of St Francis of Assisi.His remains have only been seen in public once before - for a single day in 1978 to a very limited group of people.EPASt Francis is one of the most venerated figures in Christianity and was born in the Italian city of Assisi in 1181 or 1182.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.The late Pope Francis, who died last year after leading the Roman Catholic Church for more than a decade, chose his name and modelled his papacy after the radical humility of Saint Francis.St Francis of Assisi's bones will be on display until 22 March.