On October XNUMXth the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of San Francesco d'Assisi, the 'poor man' who became the patron saint of Italy. The protagonist of this year's Franciscan celebrations is Sardinia, which donates oil for the votive lamp that perennially burns on the saint's tomb.
Sardinia donates oil for the votive lamp
929 pilgrims from Sardinia came to Assisi to pay homage to St. Francis. In the group there are bishops, priests, deacons and of course also lay people. Also present was the regional pontifical seminary with 5 team members and 46 seminarians. Many other faithful have moved independently to participate in the many celebratory moments scheduled. For the solemnity of October XNUMXth, the Sardinian delegation meets with the municipal authorities of Assisi and then follows the Eucharistic celebration in the basilica. During the rite the lamp on the simulacrum of the 'poor man' will be lit with the oil donated by the Sardinia.
“InTorno a Francesco”, exhibition project of the diffused Uffizi
In Assisi for a few days and until 6 January 2022 it is possible to admire the work attributed to Master of the Cross (no. 434 of the Uffizi), depicting "St. Francis receives the stigmata". In tempera and gold it is dated between 1240-1250 in Byzantine style that precedes the Giotto age. The exhibition, in one of the municipal rooms, is an event of great religious and artistic-cultural importance called “Around Francesco". The Minister of Cultural Heritage Dario Franceschini himself inaugurated the special exhibition, the director of the Uffizi Galleries Eike Schmidt with the mayor Stefania Proietti.
The exhibition project is curated by Giulio Proietti Bocchini, art historian of the Municipality of Assisi and by Stefano Brufani, director of the Department of Ancient and Modern Letters, Languages, Literatures and Civilizations and secretary of the international society of Franciscan Studies in Assisi. “InTorno a Francesco” is the result of the collaboration between the Municipality of Assisi and the Uffizi Galleries as part of the “Uffizi diffusi” project. The exclusive and extraordinary exhibition of the work in Assisi is a tribute to 'Seraphic City'for the Franciscan celebrations 2021.
Francesco d'Assisi, patron of Italy and ecology
In 2026 it will be eight centuries that Saint Francis ended his earthly life. To worthily honor this anniversary the council of ministers, on the proposal of the president Mario Draghi and the Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini has allocated a total contribution of 4,5 million euros. Funds that will be needed from 2022 to 2027 to remind the world of the thought and works of the 'poor man', one of the most loved saints in the world. The resources will be used for "historical, cultural, religious and artistic events and events aimed at celebrating the life and works of the Saint, patron of Italy and ecology. Initiatives that will be coordinated starting from 2022 and until 2026 by a national committee. The members of the Committee will be chosen from among exponents of Italian and international culture with proven competence and knowledge of the life and works of St. Francis of Assisi ".
