Pope Leo XIV in Santa Maria degli Angeli (Assisi)
FEBRUARY 19, 2026, SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI (ASSISI) – Joyful news is shaking up preparations for the “GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting”: Pope Leo XIV will be present at Santa Maria degli Angeli (Assisi) on August 6, 2026, to meet with thousands of young people between the ages of 18 and 33 from across Europe.
The event is promoted by the General Ministers of the Franciscan Families and organized by the Friars Minor of Assisi (OFM, OFM Cap, and OFM Conv), in collaboration with the Diocese of Assisi – Nocera Umbra – Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, and the City of Assisi. Under the patronage of the National Committee for the Eighth Centenary of the Death of Saint Francis, the initiative takes on profound ecclesial and spiritual significance, fitting within the celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of the Saint of Assisi.
The program of the day with the Pope
The morning of Thursday, August 6th will see its culmination at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, where the Pope will make a pilgrimage alongside the children:
- 9:00 am: The Holy Father will meet with young people, offering a spiritual compass for facing the challenges of the present in the spirit of St. Francis.
- 10:30 am: Solemn Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Pope Leo XIV.
- Conclusion: The celebration will conclude with the missionary mandate, a symbolic sending that will call the young people of Europe to bring back to their lands the freshness of the Gospel and Franciscan joy.
An invitation extended to all
This extraordinary event is part of the previously announced program, which, from August 3rd to 6th, will feature thematic workshops, moments of prayer, and the Fra GOspel music competition.
The announcement of the Pope’s presence is part of the journey of fraternity undertaken by the Franciscan Families. As the organizing friars state:
We want to forcefully reiterate the invitation that Pope Leo XIV extended to young people during last summer’s Jubilee: “Our hope is Jesus.” This meeting was created precisely to give voice to the profound desire, held in the heart of every young person, to encounter the Lord. In the footsteps of Francis, we want to build bridges so that every young person can rediscover the beauty of this hope in their daily lives, discerning the Face of God incarnate in every person, especially in the smallest and most vulnerable.
The Pope’s presence confirms the mission of “GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting”: to offer a space for authentic listening and dialogue, open to believers and non-believers, in the spirit of fraternity.
Information and Registration
Registration to participate in the meeting and attend the meeting with the Holy Father is now open on the official website.
Website: goassisi.org
Contact: info@goassisi.org
Social Media: @goassisi on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
Other events related to the Centenary of the Transitus of St. Francis: centenarifrancescaniassisi.org
