Pope proclaims Jubilee Year honouring St Francis of Assisi
By Heather Excell
Catholics around the world are invited to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi with a Jubilee Year, which began on 10 January 2026 and will continue until 10 January 2027.
Proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV, the Jubilee is the culmination of recent centenary celebrations connected to the saint, including the commemoration of the first Nativity scene, the composition of the Canticle of the Creatures, and the reception of the stigmata.
Pope Leo noted that St Francis’ message of peace is needed now more than ever.
“In this age, marked by so many seemingly interminable wars, by internal and social divisions that create mistrust and fear, he continues to speak,” the Pope said. “Not because he offers technical solutions, but because his life points to the authentic source of peace.”
The Pope encouraged the faithful to imitate St Francis and his profound love for Christ as a way of growing in faith. Specific emphasis was also placed on the saint’s humility, simplicity and charity.
As part of the Jubilee, the Apostolic Penitentiary issued a decree granting the opportunity to obtain a Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions of the Church: sacramental confession, reception of the Eucharist, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
The indulgence may be obtained by the faithful who participate in the Jubilee Year through pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship connected to the saint anywhere in the world. The decree also provides for the sick, elderly, and homebound, who may participate spiritually by offering their prayers and sufferings to God.
In keeping with the Church’s teaching, the Plenary Indulgence may be offered for oneself, or for the benefit of the holy souls in Purgatory.
Among the significant moments of the Jubilee Year, the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi will host a public display of the saint’s remains from 22 February to 26 March 2026. The mandatory online booking system has already recorded over 250,000 registrations.
Beyond this, the Year of St Francis invites the faithful to rediscover the Italian saint as a guide for Christian living, encouraging them to renew their commitment to living out the Gospel.