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

To mark the 800th anniversary of his death, the bones of St. Francis of Assisi are on public display in Assisi, Italy. The 13th-century skeleton is being exhibited at the lower church of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi until March 22nd. This is only the second time the saint's remains have been publicly viewed, the first being a limited viewing in 1978. Around 400,000 people have reserved a place to see the remains of St. Francis, a venerated figure who renounced wealth to serve the poor and founded the Franciscan order. He is also the patron saint of animals and the environment, and his life inspired the late Pope Francis.

To mark the 800th anniversary of St. Francis' death, his remains are on public display for a month at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy. The bones, usually kept in a crypt, were moved to the upper church in a solemn procession. This is only the second time the remains have been shown to the public, the first being in 1978. Hundreds of thousands of people have already registered to view the relics of the patron saint of Italy. The influx of pilgrims is causing logistical concerns for the town's mayor, who must balance the needs of visitors with those of Assisi's residents. The basilica has long been a pilgrimage site, drawing visitors to see art and now to pray to Carlo Acutis, the Church's first millennial saint.

For the first time, the skeleton of Saint Francis of Assisi is on public display at the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Italy. The remains, housed in a nitrogen-filled plexiglass case, are expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors until March 22nd. Saint Francis, who died in 1226, founded the Franciscan order and dedicated his life to serving the poor. The display is intended to offer a meaningful experience for both believers and non-believers. While his remains were transferred to the basilica in 1230, his tomb was rediscovered in 1818, and the bones have only been displayed once before, in 1978, to a limited audience. The display includes security measures like bullet-proof glass and 24-hour surveillance.