12/01/2026
A Jubilee of Grace: The Year of Saint Francis of Assisi (2026–2027)
By decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary issued on January 10, 2026, at the request of Pope Leo XIV, the Church has solemnly proclaimed a special Year of Saint Francis of Assisi, running from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027.
This Jubilee Year commemorates the 800th anniversary of the passage into Heaven of Saint Francis of Assisi (†1226), the Seraphic Patriarch and one of the most beloved saints in Christian history.
More than a remembrance of the past, this jubilee is offered as a gift of grace for the entire Church—not only for the Franciscan Family, but for all the faithful—so that this anniversary may become a moment of authentic spiritual renewal in our own time.
🔥A Saint for Our Times
The decree emphasizes the enduring relevance of Saint Francis in today’s world. His radical Gospel life—marked by poverty, humility, peace, and love for creation—continues to speak powerfully to a humanity wounded by division, violence, and indifference. The Holy Father invites all Christians to “become saints in the contemporary world, following the example of the Seraphic Patriarch,” transforming hope into concrete charity and a sincere commitment to peace.
In this jubilee, the Church calls the faithful to rediscover Francis not merely as a gentle lover of nature, but as a man conformed to Christ Crucified, whose life was a living proclamation of the Gospel.
🔥The Gift of a Plenary Indulgence
Throughout the entire Year of Saint Francis, the Apostolic Penitentiary grants the possibility of obtaining a plenary indulgence, applicable either to oneself or in suffrage for the souls in Purgatory.
The indulgence is granted under the usual conditions:
-Sacramental Confession
-Eucharistic Communion
-Prayer according to the intentions of the Holy Father
-A heart truly detached from sin
🔥How the Faithful May Obtain the Indulgence
The indulgence may be obtained by:
-Members of the Franciscan Family
-Ecclesial communities inspired by the Franciscan charism
-All the faithful
During the Jubilee Year, the faithful are invited to:
-Make a pilgrimage to a Franciscan church or to a place of worship dedicated to Saint Francis
-Participate in Jubilee rites, or pause for prayer and meditation
-Conclude with the Our Father, the Creed, and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Francis, Saint Clare of Assisi, and the Saints of the Franciscan Family
🔥Mercy for All, Especially the Suffering
With pastoral sensitivity, special consideration is given to the elderly, the sick, and those unable to leave their homes. They, too, may obtain the indulgence by spiritually uniting themselves to the jubilee celebrations, offering their prayers and sufferings to God with trust and love.
The Apostolic Penitentiary also encourages priests to make themselves generously available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, so that this jubilee may truly become a time of mercy and healing for the People of God.
🔥A Time of Favor for the Whole Church
The Year of Saint Francis presents itself as a time of favor and grace, offered freely to all. As the Holy Father expresses his hope, may this jubilee awaken anew in hearts “feelings of Christian charity toward one’s neighbor and an authentic desire for harmony and peace among peoples.”
Eight centuries after his death, Saint Francis still calls the Church—and the world—to conversion. This Jubilee Year invites us not only to honor him, but to walk in his footsteps, rebuilding the Church through lives transformed by the Gospel.
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Prayers of the Faithful (c) 2026
