In the footsteps of St. Francis on the 800th anniversary of his Transitus

From the 2nd-13th March 2, 2026, the Province of Our Lady of the Angels of Poland held a Franciscan Jubilee pilgrimage on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of St. Francis, organised by the Secretariat of Missions and Evangelisation of the Province. The friars of the Province, the Bernardine Sisters, some representatives of the Secular Franciscan Order and lay faithful linked to Franciscan convents participated.  

The event had a special significance, offering the opportunity to pray before the mortal remains of the Seraphic Father. The pilgrimage began on the 2nd March in Krakow, in the early hours of the morning, in the chapel of the seminary, where Holy Mass was celebrated presided over by the Minister Provincial Fr. Krzysztof Bobak.  

The first stop of the pilgrimage was Padua, with a visit to the Basilica of St. Anthony and the Basilica of St. Justina. 

In the following days, the pilgrims also reached numerous cities rich in religious and cultural history, including Florence, San Gimignano, Siena, Orvieto, Bolsena and Bagnoregio.

On the fifth day, the pilgrims arrived in Rome, where they prayed in the four papal basilicas. In Rome, the group of pilgrims was joined by the Minister Provincial Fr. Krzysztof Bobak, who continued the pilgrimage until its conclusion. After their stay in the Eternal City, the pilgrims went to places particularly linked to the life of St. Francis. In the Rieti Valley, they visited, among other things, Fonte Colombo – the place where the Rule of the Order was written, where they renewed their religious vows – and Greccio, where St. Francis prepared the first nativity scene in history. They also visited Poggio Bustone, from where the Saint sent his friars to different parts of the world.  

The most important moment of the pilgrimage was the visit to Assisi and the prayer in front of the mortal remains of St. Francis. The pilgrims were welcomed by the Custos of the Sacred Monastery, Br. Marco Moroni OFMConv. After paying homage to the remains of Francis, the participants had time for personal prayer and to visit other places related to the history of the city, including the Basilica of St Clare.  

During their stay in Assisi, the pilgrims also visited the Hermitage of the Prisons and the Porziuncola in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels. In this sacred place, the Mass was presided over again by the Minister Provincial, who prayed particularly for the Province and for the preparations for the next Provincial Chapter. 

On that same day, the 25th anniversary of the perpetual profession of Br. Krzysztof and Br. Adam Stanik was also celebrated.

An important stage of the pilgrimage was a visit to the Sanctuary of La Verna, the place where St. Francis received the stigmata. In this holy place, the pilgrims, in addition to the Holy Mass, participated in the traditional procession.  

The Jubilee pilgrimage has become a time of prayer, reflection, fraternity and deepening of Franciscan spirituality. It was not only a journey to the places linked to the life of St. Francis, but also a living experience of the Church and an inspiration to live the Gospel in the spirit of peace, simplicity, and fraternity.