St. Francis of Assisi's Remains on Public Display After 800 Years

Is this a weird, pseudo-Christian practice or an ancient tradition rooted in scripture?

Published 1 hour ago

St. Francis of Assisi's Remains on Public Display After 800 Years

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Above: St. Francis of Assisi's bones at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, on Feb. 21, 2026. Image credit: Juliette Rabat/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Putting a saint's bones on display for veneration is not just strange, but blurs the line between reverence and idolatry. Scripture repeatedly warns against attaching spiritual power to physical objects and calls believers to worship God in spirit and truth. Relic practices resemble pagan shrine culture and have a history of fueling corrupt commercialization of religious artifacts. By directing devotion toward the remains of the dead, they risk shifting trust away from Christ.

Rebuild Spirit - Michelle Hayman Sub-Creations - Amy Mantravadi

Narrative B

Venerating relics is not morbid superstition but a timeless expression of an incarnational faith. From the earliest Christians who treasured Polycarp's remains, believers saw the bodies of saints as destined for resurrection, not as taboo. Scripture shows God, not idols or magicians, working through material things. The Church distinguishes veneration from worship, guards against abuse and treats relics with rigor and reverence, as signs of communion and hope in eternal life.

St. Francis of Assisi's Remains on Public Display After 800 Years

The Spin

Narrative A

Narrative B

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