His Holiness Pope Leo XIV Visits the Tomb of St Francis in Assisi

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV praying at the tomb of Saint Francis  (@Vatican Media)

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV arrives in Assisi and pays a visit to the tomb of St Francis, saying his witness is especially important "at a time when the world is searching for signs of hope.”

By Benedetta Capelli - Assisi

“It is a blessing to be able to come here today to this sacred place. As we approach the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s death, we have the opportunity to prepare to celebrate this great, humble, and poor Saint at a time when the world is searching for signs of hope.”

These were the first public words spoken by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Assisi, standing before the tomb of St. Francis.

It was the first stop on the Pope’s visit to the central Italian town, where he is meeting, on 20 November, with the Bishops of the Italian Episcopal Conference at the close of their 81st General Assembly.

Arrival in Assisi

The Pope arrived this morning by helicopter, landing shortly after 8 am. From there, he traveled by car into the heart of Assisi, the city of St Francis—a centre for art, history, culture, and devotion, and a destination for millions of pilgrims, including twenty popes over the centuries. Pope Francis, notably, visited in 2020 to sign his encyclical Fratelli Tutti.

A warm welcome in the Lower Basilica

This time it is His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s turn to visit. Before heading to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli for his meeting with the bishops, the Pope made his way shortly after 8:30 a.m. to the tomb of St Francis, who is Italy’s Patron Saint…

This report was originally publsihed on the Website of Vatican News. Please click here to read the full text.