Assisi

Roberto Benigni is returning to Italian television to celebrate Saint Francis of Assisi, Italy's patron saint, on Rai Uno on the evening of October 4, the day dedicated to the saint. The actor and director is expected to give one of his celebrated storytelling performances, recounting the life of Francis. Italian media are promoting the broadcast as a highlight of the saint's feast day.

Italy is restoring 4 October, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, as a national public holiday. With the date falling on a Saturday in 2025, many workers stand to gain extra pay, and Corriere della Sera reports on how much salaries increase for those entitled to the allowance. The move has drawn wide attention as it is the first new public holiday added to the Italian calendar in decades.

Priests at Malate Church in Manila, Philippines, have blessed dogs and other pets in an annual ceremony marking the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Owners brought their animals to the church grounds for the traditional blessing, which has drawn wide coverage from international outlets. The event highlights a popular Catholic tradition blending faith and affection for animals.

Catholics around the world are marking the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, held each year on 4 October. The day honours the 13th-century friar known for his devotion to poverty, humility and care for animals and nature. Many parishes hold blessings of pets, and the date is also linked to prayers for peace and environmental protection.

Assisi is commemorating 800 years since the death of St. Francis, with thousands of pilgrims gathering at the Porziuncola for the Transitus ceremony marking his passing. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi and Italian President Sergio Mattarella attended the Feast Day Mass on October 4, a highlight of the jubilee year in the Umbrian town.

Franciscan friars at the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi have begun using artificial intelligence, laser scanning and gigapixel photography to repair and preserve the 13th-century church. The technology allows restorers to detect cracks and deterioration in frescoes and stonework at a level of detail impossible with the naked eye, helping guide conservation of one of Italy's most visited religious sites.

Churches in the Philippines held traditional blessings for animals ahead of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, with priests sprinkling holy water on dogs, cats and other pets brought by their owners. The sight of wagging tails filling church pews has drawn warm attention online, with many sharing images of the ceremony, a beloved annual tradition honoring the patron saint of animals.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi spoke in Assisi, invoking Saint Francis to deliver the message that war is not humanity's destiny. The top Italian bishop, known for his peace mediation efforts, used the setting tied to the famed saint of peace to call for an end to conflict. The remarks come amid ongoing wars drawing continued attention from the Vatican and Catholic leaders.

October 4 marks Saint Francis of Assisi Day, and for one Swedish reader it also coincides with their own birthday. They are marking the double occasion by choosing a fitting book to read, sharing the coincidence along with reading and book recommendation tags aimed at the book-loving community.

Vatican News is highlighting St. Francis of Assisi as the saint of the day, presenting information on the 13th-century founder of the Franciscan Order and patron saint of Italy. The feature recalls his life of poverty, preaching and care for the poor, and his enduring role in Italian Catholic identity.

A church in Marion held its annual blessing of pets, an event where animals are brought by their owners to receive a blessing. The ceremony is part of a tradition honoring St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, typically held around his feast day in early October. Local coverage highlighted the congregation gathering with dogs, cats and other pets for the service.

Trinity Church in Menlo Park held a blessing of the animals service, welcoming pets and their owners into the church for a ceremonial blessing. The event, reported by local outlet InMenlo, put animals at the center of the congregation for the day. Such blessings are traditionally held around the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.

A new oratorio drawing on the messages of St. Francis of Assisi has made its debut, according to National Catholic Reporter. The work presents the saint's teachings through music, and coverage also appears in Global Sisters Report. Details about the composers, performers and venue of the premiere were not provided.

Boston's historic Old North Church held its annual Blessing of the Animals, welcoming dogs and other pets for a traditional ceremony honoring St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Owners brought their companions to receive blessings in a beloved neighborhood ritual that draws families and animal lovers to the North End church each year.

A New York City church has held its annual blessing of the animals, a ceremony in which pets are brought before clergy to receive a blessing. The event is a longstanding tradition in many churches, often timed around the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Owners typically bring dogs, cats and other pets for the ritual.

St. Mary's Church has held its fifth annual Blessing of the Pets, a ceremony in which parishioners bring their animals to receive a blessing. The event, covered by local news, continues a growing tradition among congregations that ties faith to the bond between people and their pets.

Italy celebrates the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on 4 October, a date that returned to the national holiday calendar in 2025 after nearly half a century. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered a speech marking the re-introduction of the feast, which honours the patron saint of Italy and animals. The reinstatement of the date is drawing wide attention across the country.

October 4 is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the Catholic saint best known as the patron of animals and the environment. Many communities mark the day with blessings of pets and animals, and it is often linked to reflections on care for creation. The date draws attention each year among Christians and environmental advocates alike.

Churches in the Richmond, Virginia area held blessings for pets, with dogs, cats, horses and other animals brought by their owners to receive a blessing. The events, often tied to the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, drew local attention as families brought a wide variety of animals to their congregations.

Pope Leo led the Sunday Angelus at the Vatican, reflecting on God's mercy and marking the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. He told the faithful that Saint Francis shows how to build peace through fraternal love, inviting Catholics to pray for peace and work for harmony in their communities.

Pet owners across the Philippines are having their animals blessed in ceremonies marking the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. The tradition, common in Catholic communities, draws dogs, cats and other pets to churches where priests sprinkle them with holy water.

Seattle has held an animal blessing, a ceremony in which pets and other animals are blessed, often in a religious setting. Such events typically draw pet owners with dogs, cats and other animals, and are commonly held around the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Beyond the event taking place, further details about this year's gathering were not immediately available.

St. Anne Catholic Church held a pet blessing event, with the occasion captured on video by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. The ceremony follows the long-standing Catholic tradition of blessing animals, often held around the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals. Parishioners brought their pets to receive a blessing, drawing attention to the church's community outreach.

A new report explores the growing practice of blessing animals in church services, tracing how congregations are welcoming pets and other creatures into religious life. The tradition, often linked to the feast of St Francis of Assisi, is being adopted more widely as churches look to connect with communities. Coverage highlights how these ceremonies reflect changing attitudes toward animals in faith settings.