Eight hundred years ago, St. Francis of Assisi died in a small chapel outside Assisi, but his influence was only beginning. Francis died on October 3, 1226, at the Portiuncula, the little chapel that had become one of the most important places in his life. He was only in his early forties, but years of poverty, illness, and penance had taken their toll.
Nearly blind and bearing the wounds of the stigmata he had received two years earlier, Francis knew death was approaching. Rather than speak of death with fear, he famously called it “Sister Bodily Death” in his Canticle of the Creatures. For Francis, death was the final passage from this life into the presence of the God he had spent his life trying to follow.
Now, 800 years after that passage, the Catholic Church is marking the anniversary in a special way.
| Date | What Happened |
|---|---|
| 1224 | St. Francis received the stigmata, bearing the wounds of Christ two years before his death. |
| October 3, 1226 | St. Francis died at the Portiuncula outside Assisi. Franciscans commemorate his passing as the Transitus. |
| January 10, 2026 | The special Year of St. Francis began, marking the 800th anniversary of his death. |
| October 3, 2026 | The 800th anniversary of the death, or Transitus, of St. Francis of Assisi. |
| January 10, 2027 | The special Year of St. Francis concludes. |
The 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis
Pope Leo XIV proclaimed a special Year of St. Francis running from January 10, 2026, through January 10, 2027, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. The anniversary follows several other important Franciscan centenaries celebrated in recent years, including the 800th anniversaries of the first Nativity scene at Greccio, the composition of the Canticle of the Creatures, and Francis receiving the stigmata.
But 2026 brings the commemorations to their natural conclusion: the death—or Transitus—of Francis himself.
Franciscans use the Latin word Transitus, meaning “passage” or “crossing,” when referring to Francis’ death. Each year on October 3, Franciscan communities around the world commemorate his final hours. This year, that observance has profound significance.
[[st-francis-of-assisi-with-birds-personalized-prayer-cards,novena-to-st-francis-of-assisi-prayer-card]]
On January 10, Pope Leo XIV marked the opening of the eighth centenary by recalling Francis as a man who went to meet “Sister Death” in peace. The Pope also emphasized one of the great themes running throughout Francis’ life: peace rooted in Christ.
Eight centuries later, the Church is inviting Catholics to remember Francis and to rediscover the way he lived the Gospel.
A Special Plenary Indulgence for the Year of St. Francis
The Church has also attached a special spiritual grace to the anniversary.
During the Year of St. Francis, Catholics have the opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence.
An indulgence is not the forgiveness of sins. Rather, as the Catechism teaches, it is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.
The special indulgence for the Franciscan Jubilee is available under the usual conditions: sacramental Confession, reception of Holy Communion, prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father, and the required disposition of detachment from sin.
The Apostolic Penitentiary has extended the opportunity to all the faithful who make a pilgrimage to a Franciscan conventual church or to a place of worship dedicated to St. Francis or otherwise connected with him. There, pilgrims should participate devoutly in the Jubilee observances or spend an appropriate period of time in prayer and meditation.
The visit should conclude with the Our Father, the Creed, and prayers invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Francis, St. Clare, and the saints of the Franciscan family. The indulgence may also be applied to the souls in Purgatory.
Those who are elderly, sick, caring for the sick, or unable to leave home for a serious reason are not forgotten. They may obtain the indulgence by spiritually uniting themselves to the Jubilee celebrations, offering their prayers and sufferings to God, and intending to fulfill the usual conditions as soon as they are able.
[[the-life-of-st-francis-of-assisi,day-by-day-with-st-francis]]
A Saint Who Still Speaks to the Church
It would be difficult to measure the influence St. Francis has had during the eight centuries since his death. The young man who once knelt before the San Damiano Cross asking God what he should do eventually inspired a religious family that spread throughout the world.
He embraced poverty when the world sought wealth. He sought peace in a time of warfare. He cared for the poor and the forgotten. Above all, he wanted to imitate Jesus Christ as completely as possible.
That desire eventually marked his own body when he received the stigmata in 1224. Two years later, his earthly life came to an end at the Portiuncula.
But his mission did not.
The 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death is an opportunity to look again at a saint whose message remains remarkably relevant: return to Christ, seek peace, practice mercy, and live the Gospel rather than merely speaking about it. Francis spent his life trying to follow Christ without reservation. Eight hundred years after his death, the Church is inviting us to follow his example.
Read next... 3 Powerful Novena Prayers to St. Francis of Assisi
A Special Rosary to Commemorate
To commemorate the 800th anniversary, Ghirelli created the St. Francis Transitus Rosary, available in gold or silver. Its centerpiece depicts the Transitus of St. Francis, recalling the saint’s final moments on earth, while its crucifix draws the meditation toward the Passion of Christ. Created specifically for this anniversary year, the rosary offers Catholics a beautiful way to remember St. Francis while turning, as he always did, toward Christ in prayer. Created to honor the 800th anniversary of the passing of St. Francis of Assisi, this handcrafted Ghirelli rosary features distinctive natural beads and devotional imagery centered on Christ’s Passion and the Transitus of St. Francis.
See also the Catholic Company St. Francis of Assisi Collection.
[[ghirelli-st-francis-transitus-rosary-in-gold-or-silver]]
