From October 11 to 15, 2026, as we mark the 800th anniversary of the transitus of St. Francis, we, a group of friars from the Province of St. Elizabeth in Germany and the Provincial Custody of St. Leopold and St. Nicolas of Flüe in Austria-Switzerland, made a pilgrimage together to Assisi and other places associated with the life of St. Francis.
In Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, we had the opportunity to deepen our understanding of his life and spirituality. Thanks to a guided tour of the Basilica of St. Francis and the museum, led by our confrere, Friar Thomas FREIDEL, we explored more closely the historical, artistic, and spiritual richness of these places, which have attracted pilgrims from around the world for centuries.
At each place we visited, we reflected briefly on an aspect of Franciscan life. The topics included vocation, fraternal life, forgiveness, living according to the Rule, and the mystery of the Incarnation.
We paid particular attention to vocation and the courage to change—to leave behind our sense of security and established habits and open ourselves with trust to God’s call. St. Francis reminds us that following the Lord means not remaining prisoners of our own limitations or ideas, but allowing God to guide us toward ever broader horizons.
Fraternal life was also central to our reflections. Looking at the example of St. Francis and the way he lived fraternity, we rediscovered the importance of sharing each person’s gifts and abilities. Rather than dividing us, our differences and individual qualities can enrich us all and help build an authentic fraternal community.
The pilgrimage also encouraged us not to lose heart in difficult times or lose our inner peace when faced with painful experiences, even when it is a confrere who causes us suffering. Following Francis’ example, we are called to persevere in doing good, to safeguard the peace of our hearts, and continue to trust in God without allowing difficulties and misunderstandings to lead us away from our vocation.
During the pilgrimage, we celebrated Mass at San Damiano, in Greccio, and at the tomb of our Seraphic Father. These were deeply moving moments, marked by a silence that went beyond the mere absence of words, inviting us to open our hearts and listen attentively to what the Lord wishes to say to us.
In addition to visiting Franciscan sites, the pilgrimage was a valuable opportunity for fraternity among the friars of the Province of Germany and its Custody in Austria-Switzerland. Praying together, celebrating Mass, and sharing moments of dialogue strengthened our fraternal bonds and renewed our desire to live the Gospel in the footsteps of St. Francis.
We returned from these deeply meaningful places with a renewed sense of our calling and our responsibility to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis in our daily lives and pastoral ministry. It is a journey of faith, fraternity, and peace that calls us to have the courage to let God transform us and to open our hearts ever more fully to His will.
Friar Bernhard LANG
