Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews) – The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (AVOSA) has been marking the eighth centenary of the death of the Saint Francis of Assisi with a series of events and gatherings centred on the pilgrimage of a relic from Porziuncola.
“Eight centuries after his death, St. Francis continues to speak to a vibrant Church living among different peoples, cultures and religions in the Arabian Peninsula,” reads a statement by the vicariate sent to AsiaNews. “His witness offers a point of reflection on faith, fraternity, dialogue, peace, praise of God through creation, and coexistence.”
As part of this, the Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, is carrying a fragment of the presbytery with him during his pastoral visits.
The celebrations, the statement goes on to say, are not “only an occasion to remember St. Francis, but also to rediscover his legacy and allow it to inspire the way of living the Catholic faith in the Arabian Peninsula today.”
The Franciscan presence
In the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, the month of October will serve as the focal point for the celebrations marking the eighth centenary of the Transitus (passing) of Saint Francis of Assisi.
A series of events will take place across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, ranging from the solemn celebration of the Feast of Saint Francis to educational days, lectures, and artistic initiatives, part of a broader journey of Franciscan spirituality engaged in the region in 2026.
On 24 May, Bishop Martinelli issued a letter encouraging the faithful to "rediscover Franciscan spirituality, which plays a crucial role in the Middle East, and to participate in the initiatives organized within the Vicariate.”
Key events include a gathering at the Italian Cultural Institute in Abu Dhabi and an educational day for the Southern Vicariate.
Traditionally entrusted to the Capuchin Order, the Southern Vicariate possesses a strong Franciscan identity. “The anniversary is therefore not only a commemoration, but also an opportunity to rediscover the living legacy of St. Francis for Catholic witness today in this part of the world.”
This has led to many parish-based initiatives, including spaces and gardens dedicated to prayers, exhibitions, educational programmes, multimedia resources, and pilgrimage experiences linked to jubilee churches.
A particularly significant symbol of this journey is a relic of the Porziuncola, which the Vicar himself is bringing to every parish during his pastoral visits.
The observance also included moments of reflection and education, backed by new pastoral resources such as The Ten Franciscan Words, a book by Father Stefano Luca that explores key aspects of Franciscan spirituality and their contemporary relevance.
This journey will reach a particularly intense moment this month, as the universal Church marks the Transitus of Saint Francis and his liturgical feast day.
Rather than limiting itself to a single commemorative event, the Vicariate is promoting a programme that combines liturgy, spirituality, education, and talks, offering various perspectives on the Franciscan legacy within the contemporary context of southern Arabia.
The solemn Transitus will be led by Bishop Martinelli on 3 October at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi. The following day, he will celebrate Mass for the Solemnity of Saint Francis at the church dedicated to the saint in Jebel Ali, Dubai.
Furthermore, one of the main events will be held on 19 October at the Italian Cultural Institute in Abu Dhabi, titled 800th Anniversary of the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi – A Legacy from Assisi to the Emirates
The evening will delve into the enduring relevance of the Franciscan experience through spirituality, talks, and art; attendees will include, among others, Emirati visual artist and engineer Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Mualla, who will offer a contribution on Saint Francis and sustainable art.
On 16 October, the Holy Spirit Parish in Ghala (Muscat) will screen the film Francesco by Liliana Cavani, providing an opportunity to gain insight into the life and spiritual journey of Saint Francis.
Finally, on 22 October, the clergy, religious, and pastoral leaders from across the Vicariate will gather at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi for the AVOSA Formation Day, titled Saint Francis of Assisi: A Living Legacy for Our Vicariate, featuring an in-depth look at the themes of dialogue, coexistence, and art.
A journey both ideal and real
In the year marking the eighth centenary of the transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi, a small yet significant sign of communion now links the Umbrian town with the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.
The Friars Minor of the Seraphic Province of Umbria and Sardinia have gifted the Vicariate a stone from the presbytery of the Porziuncola, the place where the saint died, which was preserved after the restoration work that took place in the wake of the earthquake that struck the saint's hometown in 1997.
After the quake, the chapel's floor level was lowered, and several stones were carefully kept as relics.
During this centenary year, the relic is travelling across the Southern Vicariate (United Arab Emirates and Oman, but not war-ravaged Yemen), accompanying the bishop's pastoral visits to allow the faithful to venerate it.
The first stop on this pilgrimage was the Holy Spirit Parish in Ghala, Muscat (Oman), from 12 to 15 February where the relic was welcomed during the prelate's pastoral visit to the Catholic community.
The apostolic vicar himself received the relic in Assisi while attending a conference on the presence of Saint Francis and his charism in the Arab world.
This highlighted the connection between the saint and Sultan Malik al-Kamil, whom he met in Damietta, Egypt, in 1219, a meeting that gave rise to the presence of the Franciscan charism in the Arab and Muslim world, including the Gulf region.
Indeed, a statement from the Vicariate explains that, “If Francis once crossed borders guided only by faith, humility, and the desire for peace, now the Porziuncola itself symbolically reaches” out to the region.
This represents a continuation of the journey, both in spirit and the present day, serving as “testimony” to the fact that “the seed of fraternity planted centuries ago continues to grow.”
The Heart of Franciscan Life
The Porziuncola holds a unique place in Franciscan memory. It was here that Francis embraced the Gospel and understood the meaning of his mission.
It was also here that the community of the Friars Minor took shape, and where, in 1226, he welcomed "Sister Death”, leaving the world the testament of his life and holiness, guided by trust in God.
Taking a stone from this sacred site on pilgrimage to Abu Dhabi and across the Vicariate serves as a visible sign of the Franciscan charism, which was born in Assisi but is now part of the universal Church and the community of the faithful.
“Receiving a stone from the Porziuncola means welcoming into our local Church a living memory of Saint Francis’ encounter with God,” Bishop Martinelli said.
For him, “In a land where Christians come from many nations and cultures, this relic reminds us that the Gospel of peace, humility, and fraternity is always concrete and universal. The presence of this relic among us strengthens our vocation to be a Church of dialogue and encounter.”
To make the gift suitable for veneration by the faithful, a reliquary was crafted by Friar Cornelio Pallares, a Friar Minor known for the care and profound meaning he brings to the creation of sacred objects.
The reliquary allows the stone to be both protected and visible, offering visitors a simple yet profound point of spiritual connection with the origins of Franciscan life.
Throughout this centenary year, the relic is travelling through the Southern Vicariate, accompanying the bishop’s pastoral visits and offering the faithful the opportunity to venerate it. Thus, the stone becomes not merely a symbol kept within a church, but a true “pilgrim among pilgrims.”
From Assisi to the Gulf, this small stone becomes “a bridge between memory and mission,” reminding the Church in southern Arabia that “the path of Saint Francis continues wherever believers choose dialogue, simplicity, and peace.”
(Photo credit: Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia/AVOSA)
