Italy hosts cultural events marking Franciscan anniversaries

Various Italian towns are hosting cultural and spiritual events to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi and the feast of Saint Clare.

In Gerace, an event titled ‘Le forme della perfetta letizia’ will take place at Casa Spanò on August 12, 2026. The program features a dialogue on how Franciscanism influenced art and architecture, specifically examining the relationship between spirituality and the built environment. Speakers include Fra’ Giuseppe Murdaca, discussing the Franciscan view of nature, and art historian Attilio M. Spanò, who will focus on Franciscan architecture in Calabria and the Mezzogiorno.

In San Severino Marche, celebrations are scheduled for August 10 and 11. The events include a torchlit procession led by Capuchin friars from the Capuchin convent to the Monastery of Saint Clare, followed by a prayer vigil. On August 11, the community will host a theatrical production titled ‘Il Viaggio di Francesco,’ directed by Pino Quartullo. Based on the novel ‘La sapienza di un povero’ by Éloi Leclerc, the play explores the internal spiritual struggles of Saint Francis.