Bones of St. Francis to Go on Display in Assisi, Raising Concerns

The monthlong public exhibition of the medieval friar's relics is expected to draw up to 500,000 pilgrims to the small Italian town.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The bones of St. Francis of Assisi, the medieval friar who inspired Pope Francis, will go on public display for the first time in Assisi, Italy, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of his death. While the exhibition is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, it has raised concerns from the town's mayor and residents about the strain it will put on Assisi's infrastructure and services.

Why it matters

St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most revered Catholic saints, and his hometown of Assisi is a major pilgrimage site. The public display of his relics is a significant event that will bring increased religious tourism to the town, but it also raises logistical challenges for local officials and residents.

The details

The bones will be displayed in a bulletproof glass box in the lower Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi for a month starting on February 22. Nearly 400,000 people have already registered to view the relics, and the total number of pilgrims is expected to reach 500,000. The city has recruited 400 volunteers to help manage the crowds through Assisi's narrow, cobblestone streets. However, the monthlong event will put a major strain on the town's infrastructure and services, which are typically only equipped to handle short-term influxes of visitors.

  • The bones will be on display from February 22 to March 22, 2026.
  • The exhibition commemorates the 800th anniversary of St. Francis' death.

The players

Valter Stoppini

The mayor of Assisi, who is concerned about the strain the monthlong exhibition will put on the town.

St. Francis of Assisi

The medieval friar whose bones are going on display, and who inspired Pope Francis and generations of Christians.

Carlo Acutis

A recently canonized Catholic saint who has also drawn many young pilgrims to Assisi.

Brother Marco Moroni

The custodian of the convent of St. Francis, who notes the growing popularity of both St. Francis and Carlo Acutis among pilgrims.

Arianna Catarinelli

A souvenir shop owner in Assisi who sees the exhibition as positive for local businesses.

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What they’re saying

“We're used to this kind of event, but that lasts for one, two or three days. This is something prolonged, for a month, so I'm a bit worried, but calm.”

— Valter Stoppini, Mayor of Assisi (dnyuz.com)

“When we go out onto the piazza, we find many people who ask us, 'Where's Carlo? Where's Carlo?'”

— Brother Marco Moroni, Custodian of the convent of St. Francis (dnyuz.com)

“For residents, finding parking isn't easy. But for businesses, I think it's positive that there are so many people.”

— Arianna Catarinelli, Souvenir shop owner (dnyuz.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This event highlights the delicate balance between religious tourism and the needs of local residents in Assisi, as the town must accommodate a massive influx of pilgrims while also ensuring the quality of life for its citizens.