The 800 years since the death of Saint Francis: Mattarella in Assisi
The President of the Republic participates in the celebrations for the Patron Saint of Italy in Assisi, underlining the relevance of his message of peace and humility.
Quick Look
- In Assisi we celebrate the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis, patron saint of Italy.
- President Sergio Mattarella and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi participated in the mass, recalling the relevance of the message of peace and the rejection of war.
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Why It Matters
October 4th marks the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, central figure of Christianity and patron saint of Italy.
The calendar of the celebration for the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis, Patron Saint of Italy, culminates today, October 4th. The center of the celebrations is Assisi, where, in the Upper Basilica, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella also participated in the mass celebrated by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi.
Zuppi recalled how both the world in which Francis lived and that of today are marked "by terrible wars", but the saint "reminds us that war is not a destiny". So a warning: "There is no time to waste, the divider cheats and makes people believe that we find peace with weapons and not with dialogue and law", he said.
The mayor of Assisi, Valter Stoppini, lit the votive lamp that illuminates the tomb of Saint Francis, on behalf of all the Italian territories: regions, provinces and municipalities.
Mattarella also spoke at the celebrations. "Eight hundred years have passed since the death of Saint Francis, patron saint of Italy together with another great saint, Catherine of Siena. The temporal distance that separates us from that event has in no way reduced his charm and charisma, which lives well beyond the borders of Italy and of Christianity itself, of which he is the son and eminent figure", he said from the loggia of the Sacred Convent of Assisi.
“Prophet of peace, of love, of respect for Creation, his teaching is a universal heritage for women and men of all times and all latitudes, believers or non-believers, Christians or believers of other religions", added Mattarella.
"His poverty, so sought and desired, was a concrete break with the idolatry of money; his humility had nothing naive about it, it was born from a demanding thirst for truth; his obedience was not submissiveness, but a tiring, thoughtful search for the superior reasons for the unity of the Christian people and the Church. Remembering, today, the teaching of Francis to the contemporary world means highlighting some decidedly current foundations", continued Mattarella.
The head of state then quoted Pope Prevost: "In these times marked by senseless and cruel wars, by 'so much violence, manipulation, arrogance', as Leo
