Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed 2026 as a special Franciscan Jubilee Year, marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi on October 3, 1226. This centenary invites the faithful to rediscover the witness of St. Francis, whose life of poverty, peace, and devotion to Christ continues to renew the Church.
As part of this Jubilee Year, St. Francis Chapel in Boston, staffed by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, serves as a place of pilgrimage and prayer. Like other designated Jubilee sites, these sacred spaces offer the faithful an opportunity for spiritual renewal and the reception of plenary indulgences under the usual conditions of confession, Communion, prayer for the Pope’s intentions, and detachment from sin.
A Jubilee Site in Boston
During this Franciscan Jubilee Year, St. Francis Chapel in Boston’s Prudential Center stands as a place of prayer in the heart of the city. Just as pilgrims traveled to sacred sites throughout Church history, the faithful today are invited to visit, pray, and entrust their intentions to the Lord.
People may come to:
- Pray before the Blessed Sacrament
- Receive the Sacrament of Confession
- Pray for vocations and the needs of the Church
- Receive the spiritual graces of the Jubilee Year
In the midst of daily life, this chapel offers a place of quiet encounter with Christ, echoing the simplicity and devotion of St. Francis himself.
The Call of St. Francis Today
Born in Assisi in 1181 or 1182, Francis renounced wealth and embraced a life of radical trust in God. His witness transformed countless lives and gave rise to a movement that continues more than eight centuries later.
Pope Leo XIV has invited the faithful to look to St. Francis as a model of peace and hope in our own time. His life reminds us that renewal begins with conversion of heart, trust in God’s providence, and a willingness to follow Christ wherever He leads.
A Year of Grace and Renewal
The Franciscan Jubilee Year of 2026 is an invitation to pilgrimage, prayer, and renewal. Through visiting Jubilee churches such as St. Francis Chapel, the faithful are invited to draw closer to Christ and rediscover the peace that defined the life of St. Francis.
All are welcome to enter into this Year of Grace and encounter the mercy of God!
