To mark the 8th Centenary of the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi (1226–2026), an international art contest is being launched that involves children and youth from around the world. The children are invited to express, through art, the beauty and relevance of the Franciscan message. The contest is entitled “St. Francis of Assisi, Friend of the Created World.” It forms part of the wider Centenary celebrations and answers Pope Leo XIV’s invitation to celebrate this anniversary through diverse forms of expression and participation.
In his message for the opening of the Centenary, the Pontiff expressed his desire to join spiritually “with all those who will take part in the commemorative events,” in the hope that St. Francis’ “message of peace may find a profound echo in the Church and society today.” From this perspective, the contestants are encouraged to turn their memories of St. Francis into creative expression and witness.
The contest is organized by the Bolesław Krzywousty Public Primary School in Wolin, Poland, in collaboration with the Catholic education office of the Archdiocese of Szczecin–Kamień, Poland, and the Parish of St. Nicholas (the collegiate church in Wolin and its clergy). It is sponsored by several Church and public institutions and is supported by the Most Reverend Wiesław Andrzej ŚMIGIEL, Archbishop of Szczecin-Kamień, Poland.
Other patrons include leading members of the Franciscan Family, namely, the Minister General of the Conventual Franciscans, Friar Carlos Alberto TROVARELLI; the Minister General of the Friars Minor, Friar Massimo FUSARELLI; and the President of the International Franciscan Conference of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular, Sister Daisy KALAMPARAMBAN. Their sponsorship reflects broad international participation.
The contest is open to students from kindergarten through secondary school, from Poland and other countries. Participants are invited to create an artistic work inspired by the theme. They should show how St. Francis of Assisi relates to nature and the world around them. They may use any technique such as drawing, painting, collage, or mixed media.
The contest began on January 10, 2026, the opening date of the Jubilee of St. Francis. It has been structured in two phases: a school-level selection and a central phase. Artwork must be submitted by June 20, 2026, and the results will be published on June 30, 2026.
Artwork should be emailed in digital form to: konkurswolin@gmail.com, together with a completed registration form (as required by the rules). For further information, please call the contest coordinator at +48 609 066 292.
The competition aims to promote artistic talent and pass on the Franciscan spiritual heritage to new generations: to educate young people to care for creation, to raise their ecological awareness, and to encourage a spirit of dialogue and peace. In this sense, the initiative is in line with the reflections of the Franciscan Family, which calls us to make “visible and fruitful” the seeds of the Gospel that Francis left throughout history.
Through art, children and young people are invited to bring the message of St. Francis of Assisi to life today: to see every creature as a brother or sister and to build relationships of peace in a world marked by division and conflict.
General Office of Communications
Contest rules (downloadable):
