On July 13-16, 2026, the São Boaventura Institute in Brasília (Federal District) Brazil, hosted the 2026 Franciscan Symposium as part of “Franciscan Week,” a program promoted by the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Brazil (Brasilia) as part of the celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the transitus of St. Francis of Assisi (1226–2026).
Inspired by the motto, “Preserve the Memory of St. Francis of Assisi, Our Father and Brother,” the Symposium brought together friars, lay faithful, students, and many friends of Franciscan spirituality, offering a rich program of lectures, celebratory moments, music, and interdisciplinary dialogue.
During the four-day event, the participants reflected deeply on the life of St. Francis, his spiritual legacy, and the relevance of his message for the Church and the world today. The Symposium also strengthened fellowship and communion among the different branches of the Franciscan Family.
The Symposium opened on Monday, July 13, with Mass celebrated in the St. Francis of Assisi Post-Novitiate Chapel. Afterwards, the Most Reverend Archbishop Luís Gonzaga Silva PEPEU, OFM Cap., Bishop of Baturité, State of Ceará, Brazil, gave the opening lecture, “St. Francis of Assisi’s Encounter with Sister Death.” He illustrated the Franciscan understanding of death, not as the end of life but as a sister who accompanies Christians toward their definitive encounter with God—highlighting the spirituality of St. Francis’ transitus and his profound faith in eternal life.
On Tuesday, July 14, the Franciscan scholar Friar Marcos ROBERTO, OFM Cap., lectured on: “The World Misses You, Francis! The Ecclesial and Universal Legacy of St. Francis of Assisi.” He highlighted the enduring relevance of St. Francis, emphasizing his contribution to the renewal of the Church, universal fraternity, care for creation, the promotion of peace, and the Gospel witness of simplicity and mercy.
The third day, Wednesday, July 15, focused on the relationship between spirituality and art. Musician Friar Luís Henrique DE OLIVEIRA VENTURA, OFM Conv., lectured on: “The Way Francis Gave Praise.” The lecture was followed by a Franciscan concert and the premiere presentation of the album, app, and e-book “Louvor Seráfico” (Seraphic Praise), an original work inspired by the musical and spiritual richness of the Franciscan tradition. The concert highlighted the special role music played in St. Francis’s spiritual life, serving as an expression of praise to the Creator and a means of contemplating the beauty found throughout creation.
On Thursday, July 16, a panel discussion was held entitled “Perspectives on Death and Mourning: An Open Dialogue.” The panelists were sociologist Dr. Carlos ÂNGELO, psychologist Gustavo CAMPELO, and theologian Friar Emanuel AFONSO DA SILVA, OFM Conv. The discussion was an interdisciplinary examination of human mortality, addressing its social, psychological, and spiritual aspects while also allowing ample time for dialogue with the participants. The evening concluded by reaffirming Christian hope in the face of death, in full harmony with the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi.
The 2026 Franciscan Symposium was more than a series of lectures: it was a true crossroads of faith, culture, and scholarship. The speakers, and the variety of topics they addressed, gave the participants an appreciation of the richness of the Franciscan charism from different perspectives and demonstrated how the experience of St. Francis continues to offer deeply human and Gospel-centered responses to the challenges of our time.
As part of the celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the transitus of St. Francis of Assisi, the Symposium reaffirmed the vitality of Franciscan spirituality, which continues to inspire men and women to embrace fraternity, care for creation, peace, and Christian hope in their lives. The four-day event enabled the participants to more deeply experience St. Francis’s rich cultural and spiritual legacy while renewing their awareness that, eight hundred years after his transitus, his message continues to illuminate the Church and society.
Friar Gederson Aparecido MARQUES NUNES
