Vatican City, Nov 20, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Pope Benedict has established new juridical norms for the famous Basilica of St. Francis, as well as the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, both located in Assisi, Italy and run respectively by the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Conventual and Friars Minor.
The new "Motu proprio" entitled "De Basilicis Sancti Francisci et Sanctae Mariae Angelorum," establishes new norms concerning the Basilicas, which will now be assigned a Cardinal to oversee some necessary apostolic activities.
The Pope began his new document by recalling the universal fame of the Basilica of St. Francis "which holds the remains of the seraphic saint," and that of St. Mary of the Angels "which houses the diminutive but pre-eminent church of Porziuncola."
He also highlighted the fact that "the Roman Pontiffs, for their part, have always had special ties with, and particular solicitude for, these two major Franciscan churches, ... and have always kept them under their own direct jurisdiction."