Home
 Saint Francis of Assisi 800th Anniversary of the Approval of the Franciscan Rule Scott 1452 (2010) This week Pope Leo XIV proclaimed a Franciscan Jubilee Year in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. The “Special Year of St. Francis” coincides with the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death on October 3, 1226. In addition to the Church’s proclamation of the Jubilee Year, Italy will once again celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis as a national holiday, starting on October 4, 2026. During this Jubilee Year, which extends from January 10, 2026, through January 10, 2027, the faithful may obtain a plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis. The Franciscan Jubilee Year was inaugurated on January 10 through a decree issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See. In part, the decree states, in a world where: “the virtual takes over the real, disagreements and social violence are part of everyday life, and peace becomes more insecure and distant every day, this Year of St. Francis spurs all of us, each according to our possibilities, to imitate the poor man of Assisi, to form ourselves as far as possible on the model of Christ.”Pope Leo XIV also spoke to the upcoming Franciscan Jubilee in a letter to the ministers general of the Franciscan Family Conference, which focused on a call to peace with Saint Francis as the example: “in this era, marked by so many seemingly endless wars, by internal and social divisions that create distrust and fear, he continues to speak. Not because he offers technical solutions, but because his life points to the authentic source of peace.”From a philatelic standpoint, Vatican City has a listing on its 2026 annual stamp program announcing an issue to honor the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis. The stamp is identified as a joint issue, although the other participating postal entities are not listed. It is a good bet that the other postal authorities on the Italian peninsula (Italy, San Marino and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta) will have stamps honoring Saint Francis, with San Marino and Italy also planning the release of coins in his honor. Vatican City acknowledged the 750th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi’s death with a six-stamp set in 1976. As far back as 1926, Italy honored the 700th death of the saint with a set of stamps. 
 
 Saint Francis of Assisi 750th Anniversary of Death Scott 607-612 (1977) REFERENCES: |
