The remains of Saint Francis of Assisi, the most popular saint in Italy, are exposed 800 years after his death

He was small in stature, with a reputation for having a quick temper, but His humanity attracted people so much that he became very popular and that in the 800 years that followed until today has been confirmed throughout the Catholic world.

The only Argentine Pope, Jorge Bergoglio, was the first pontiff to choose his nameFrancisco. He died in Rome at the age of 88, on April 25, 2025 after sponsoring the idea of ​​exposing the remains of the Poor Man of Assisi, which today became a reality.

It is estimated that until the end of March, when the exhibition will conclude, More than 400 thousand faithful will attend to venerate his remains.

Son of a rich cloth merchant from Assisi, Francisco lived a privileged childhood and adolescence, until he decided to participate in a war against the neighboring city of Perugia and ended up sentenced to a year in prison. His father had to pay a ransom after months spent in prison. When he returned to Assisi he was not the happy boy he had been before, he had changed profoundly.

lived a intense spiritual crisis that led him to abandon riches and follow a life marked by poverty and beggingwhich allowed him to overcome his spiritual conflicts. He received, they say, a vision from San Damiano who asked him to “repair his church.” He decided to strip away all his possessions and dedicate himself completely to God..

In 1205 he abandoned his cavalry career in the service of the Pope and heard for the first time the voice of God asking him to repair the Church of San Damiano. Francisco used his father’s money to restore it.

He decided to free himself from all his assets. He did it in the public square and embraced the ascetic life “dominated by love for the Lord and all the Created.”

He left Assisi for Gubbio, where he made an impression when he once He encountered a big bad wolf and tamed it by talking to it.. It was his first miracle.

Many proselytes were soon added to his figure. Soon twelve disciples surrounded him. In the Rivatorto Slum, in 1209 the order of the Franciscans was officially born, characterized by their total poverty.

His fame spread quickly. Francis traveled throughout central Italy and in 1219 traveled twice to the Holy Land, Egypt and Morocco. He later visited Spain but had to return to Italy due to his precarious state of health.

He also composed the Song of the Creatures and the regulations of the Franciscan Order.

In 1223, in Greccio, he created the first living manger in history.

His love for the Created, his continuous wandering followed by his followers has led him to be venerated as the patron of animals and the environment. October 4 is recognized as a national celebration in Italy.

He died on October 3, 1226, aged 44. Two years later Pope Gregory IX canonized him. In 1939 Pope Pius XII proclaimed him patron of Italy along with Saint Catherine of Siena.