Saint Francis of Assisi's Remains to be Publicly Displayed for the First Time

In a significant cultural and religious event, the remains of Saint Francis of Assisi will be on full public display starting this Sunday, a first in history that is anticipated to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors. The revered skeleton, enclosed in a nitrogen-filled plexiglass case inscribed with the Latin phrase "Corpus Sancti Francisci," is located within the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, nestled in the picturesque Italian hillside town of Assisi. Saint Francis, who passed away on October 3, 1226, is renowned for founding the Franciscan order after renouncing his wealth in favor of a life dedicated to serving the impoverished. Giulio Cesareo, the director of communications for the Franciscan convent in Assisi, expressed hopes that this display would provide a meaningful experience for both believing and non-believing individuals. According to Cesareo, the state of the bones—damaged and consumed—illustrates Saint Francis’s complete dedication to his life's mission. His remains have been housed in the basilica built in his honor since 1230, but were only rediscovered in 1818 following clandestine excavations. Since then, the bones had been displayed publicly only once, in 1978, and then to a very limited audience for just one day. For this new exhibit, the transparent case containing the relics was extracted from the metal coffer where it has been kept inside the stone tomb of the saint. To ensure protection, this display is situated within an additional bulletproof and anti-burglary glass case, monitored by 24-hour surveillance cameras. As the patron saint of Italy, Saint Francis’s legacy is being celebrated further with the reinstatement of a public holiday on October 4, marking the 800th anniversary of his death. Reservations to view the saint's remains have already exceeded 400,000, with visitors coming from all corners of the globe, though a notable majority are Italian. On average, the basilica sees around 1,000 visitors each weekday and up to 4,000 on weekends during this quieter time of year. However, the Franciscan order expects attendance to soar to 15,000 on weekdays and up to 19,000 on weekends throughout the month of the remains' display. Throughout Christian history, the bones of martyrs and the relics associated with them have been held in veneration, often without the connotation of being macabre, as noted by Cesareo. Experts have indicated that the extended display of Saint Francis’s remains should not negatively impact their preservation since the sealed display case does not allow for contact with outside air, maintaining the same conditions as when the remains were interred. Light within the basilica will also be kept subdued to avoid any detrimental effects on the remains, ensuring that the atmosphere is reverent rather than theatrical. "This is not a movie set," Cesareo emphasized, highlighting the solemnity surrounding this historic occasion. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2