Assisi

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Assisi | Oct. 4, 2023: The faithful gather to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy.

Assisi celebrates St. Francis’ feast day on 800th anniversary of two significant works

Oct 4, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Crowds gathered in the beloved saint’s hometown to celebrate his life, his rule, and the Nativity scene in Greccio. Read more

Mass in Assisi with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi on the feast of St. Francis, Oct. 4, 2022 Andrea Cova/Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

‘St. Francis helps us not to run from suffering’: Cardinal Zuppi offers Mass in Assisi

Oct 4, 2022

By Courtney Mares

On the feast of St. Francis on Tuesday, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi offered Mass in Assisi in the basilica that holds... Read more

Carlo Acutis’ tomb is opened for public veneration in Assisi, Italy, Oct. 1, 2020. Photos courtesy of Assisi diocese.

Blessed Carlo Acutis’ tomb permanently reopened for public viewing

Jun 2, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Visitors to Assisi can once again see the first millennial to be beatified in the Catholic Church, dressed in jeans... Read more

The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

Assisi to host Mass for peace in Ukraine at the tomb of St. Francis

Feb 25, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Assisi is known as ‘the city of peace.’ Read more

Giotto's Nativity fresco projected on the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

Assisi is illuminated with Giotto’s frescoes this Christmas season

Dec 17, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Assisi debuted its Giotto Christmas light display in December 2020, but Italy’s coronavirus restrictions last year prevented people from visiting. Read more

Pope Francis at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi, Italy, Nov. 12, 2021.

Pope Francis in Assisi: ‘It is time that the poor be given back their voice’

Nov 12, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The pope met with a group of more than 500 poor people from across Europe. Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 3, 2020.

The poor will be at the heart of Pope Francis’ fifth visit to Assisi

Nov 10, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The pope will travel to the hometown of his namesake, St. Francis, on Nov. 12. Read more

On Nov. 17, 2019, Pope Francis shared a free lunch with nearly 1,500 poor people invited to dine at the Vatican for the 3rd annual World Day of the Poor

Pope Francis to meet 500 poor in Assisi on Nov. 12

Oct 15, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The encounter will mark the Catholic Church’s 5th annual celebration of the World Day of the Poor. Read more

A detail from a poster marking the liturgical memorial of Bl. Carlo Acutis on Oct. 12, 2021.

Bishop: Ask Bl. Carlo Acutis on his feast day for a greater love for the Eucharist

Oct 12, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The blessed’s tomb has drawn more than 117,000 visitors. Read more

The tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis in the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, part of Assisi’s Church of St. Mary Major.

Blessed Carlo Acutis: Permanent reopening of tomb postponed

Jul 15, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Visitors can still pray at the closed tomb in Assisi, Italy. Read more

Gino Bartali (1914-2000) competing in the 1938 Tour de France.

Catholic cycling champion who saved Jews during World War II honored in Assisi

May 5, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Gino Bartali helped to save more than 800 Jews from Nazi persecution. Read more

Giotto’s Nativity is projected on the facade of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

Assisi in Advent: illuminated frescoes and a nurse in a nativity scene

Dec 9, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Assisi unveiled a nativity scene Tuesday made of 50 figurines of shepherds, angels, and barn animals with a new addition... Read more

Pope Francis signs his new encyclical, Fratelli tutti, on the altar before the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 3, 2020. Photo

Pope Francis signs new encyclical ‘Fratelli tutti’ in Assisi

Oct 3, 2020

Pope Francis signed his new encyclical, Fratelli tutti, Saturday during a visit to Assisi.  Read more

Carlo Acutis.

Carlo Acutis beatification will be a 17-day celebration in Assisi

Sep 24, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Assisi is celebrating the beatification of computer programming teen Carlo Acutis in October with more than two weeks of liturgies... Read more

Pope Francis pictured in St. Peter’s Square, March 29, 2017.

Pope Francis to release new encyclical on Oct. 4

Sep 16, 2020

Pope Francis will release his new encyclical Oct. 4, the Vatican announced Wednesday.   Read more

The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Aug. 2, 2020.

International pilgrims scarce as pandemic subsides in Italy

Aug 17, 2020

By Alan Holdren

As life returns to normal in Italy, Catholic pilgrimage destinations are celebrating feasts publicly again. But, there’s one thing glaringly... Read more

Monastery of Franciscan order in Assisi.

Franciscans of Assisi report 18 coronavirus cases

Aug 11, 2020

By Courtney Mares

While Assisi was largely sheltered from a major coronavirus outbreak during Italy’s lockdown, ten Franciscan friars and eight novices at... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience Feb. 6, 2019.

Pope Francis invites young economists, entrepreneurs to Italy in 2020

May 11, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has personally invited young economists and entrepreneurs to join him in Assisi, Italy, in 2020, to discuss how... Read more

Pope Francis prays in Assisi's Porziuncola, Aug. 4, 2016.

Pope Francis praises Assisi's new 'sanctuary of renunciation'

Apr 17, 2017

Pope Francis on Sunday thanked Assisi's bishop for creating a shrine dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi's divestiture, when he... Read more

Pope Francis arrives in Assisi, Italy for the World Day of Prayer for Peace at the Sacred Convent, Sept. 20, 2016.

Peace requires us to do more than 'change the channel,' Pope Francis says

Sep 20, 2016

By Elise Harris

While in Assisi for an interreligious prayer gathering, Pope Francis cautioned against an indifference that ignores the suffering of others... Read more