Francis of Assisi marked with free booklet and immersive VR exhibit in the Netherlands

To commemorate the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi’s death, the Dutch Catholic initiative RKKids published a free 36‑page booklet titled “Franciscus van Assisi – heilige voor iedereen”. The booklet, approved by the bishop of Rotterdam and reviewed by the Franciscan Province of the Low Countries, presents the saint’s life and contemporary themes such as simplicity, care for creation and peace. It is distributed at no cost to parishes and other organisations until 4 October, with a voluntary contribution option for the Institute for Marriage, Family and Parenting.

At the same time, the Franciscan community in Assisi launched the virtual‑reality project “Met Francesco”, running from 6 December 2025 to 7 January 2027 near the San Francesco Basilica. The experience guides visitors through key moments of Francis’s life in a 15‑minute, multi‑language VR narrative, combining visual imagery, music and commentary to convey his message of hope. Both initiatives aim to renew public awareness of Francis’s spiritual legacy during the jubilee year.