Cardinal Zuppi, in Assisi, marks 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s death
October 06, 2026
Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi of Bologna, the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, celebrated Mass in the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi on October 4, the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death.
In his homily, Cardinal Zuppi evoked the saint’s Canticle of the Sun by repeating the words “Laudato si’“ (Praised be).
“Praised be you, my Lord, for Brother Francis, living image of Christ, your Son, who continues to show us the face of the eternal Father, who helps us to see his presence and to do his will, that nothing of our poor life be lost and that no one is lost, not even the enemy, our brother wolf who needs peace and bread,” Cardinal Zuppi preached. “Laudato si’, because Brother Francis is full of joy and we all seek it. He has found it and teaches us to find it, he makes it possible, easy for everyone.”
“Laudato si’, because Brother Francis continues to give us peace and to teach us to be peacemakers, to bring it where there is violence, hatred, misunderstanding,” Cardinal Zuppi continued. “Laudato si’, because he himself, the humble, deflated, always with so much courtesy and without any arrogance, the arrogance of the strong, speaks to everyone because his faith is not against someone but love for all, because he sees everything with the eyes of God.”
Cardinal Zuppi added:
Laudato si’ Brother Francis, because he reminds us that war is not a destiny and peace begins with us and is the only possible future ... Laudato si’, because Brother Francis, poor, makes others rich, he possesses nothing because he loves everything: we will never be well if we possess, but only if we give because everything is ours if we love, to love is to give and there is no joy without making our neighbor happy, starting with the poor whom we love as he is, not as we think he should be ...
St. Francis does not indicate a love reduced to a vague, ineffable idea, which asks for nothing, falsely reassuring for those who seek to save themselves, but a love such as is true, total love for all, rooted in the true security that is Christ ... Praised be you, my Lord, always be praised.
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