Benevento marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis with a season of cultural meetings and reflection organised by the Centro Studi del Sannio, running from September to December 2026.
The opening meeting is scheduled for Monday, 5 October 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Sala del Centenario of the Basilica Madonna delle Grazie, in Viale San Lorenzo, Benevento.
The opening meeting on 5 October
The first meeting is titled "Francesco per noi. Il messaggio del Santo di Assisi per il nostro impegno e per la nostra missione" — "Francis for us: the message of the Saint of Assisi for our commitment and our mission."
According to the announcement, greetings will be given by Father Antonio Tremigliozzi, followed by an introduction by Professor Paolo Palumbo, director of the Centro Studi del Sannio.
The announced speakers include Monsignor Sabino Iannuzzi, Bishop of Castellaneta, and Monsignor Michele Autuoro, Metropolitan Archbishop of Benevento.
A wider local programme of Franciscan events
The Centro Studi del Sannio series forms part of a broader local calendar of Franciscan initiatives in Benevento in early October.
On 4 and 5 October 2026 at 7:45 p.m., the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus hosts the concert "Laudato si', mi Signore." The concert features the Clara Lux choir, violinist Gabriella Rosato and harpist Elena Pozzuto, conducted by Maria Rosaria Minicozzi.
The available sources do not describe a direct organisational link between the Centro Studi del Sannio series and the concert; they are documented as separate initiatives within the same local anniversary programme.
What visitors should know
The full calendar of the Centro Studi del Sannio meetings from September to December has not been published in the sources acquired so far. Only the opening date, time, venue and participants for 5 October are confirmed.
No duration for the 5 October meeting and no booking or registration procedure are indicated. Visitors planning to attend should check locally for updates, and allow time to reach the Basilica Madonna delle Grazie area in Viale San Lorenzo before the 5:30 p.m. start.
For those in Benevento on 4–5 October, the combination of the afternoon reflection meeting and the evening concert at the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus offers two different ways to follow the anniversary: discussion and music.
