Year of Francis Assisi
March 2025 – 2026 · Diocese of Cochin
Franciscan Holy Year — Diocese of Cochin
To follow the path of St. Francis of Assisi and to embrace the call of the Church, the Diocese of Cochin has officially inaugurated the Franciscan Holy Year. This special year invites the faithful to rediscover the spirituality, simplicity, and radical love that defined the life of St. Francis — the patron saint of ecology, peace, and the poor.
വിശുദ്ധ ഫ്രാൻസിസ് അസ്സീസിയുടെ പാത പിന്തുടരാൻ സഭയുടെ ആഹ്വാനം ഉൾക്കൊണ്ടുകൊണ്ട് ഫ്രാൻസിസ്കൻ പുണ്യവർഷത്തിന് കൊച്ചി രൂപത ഔദ്യോഗികമായി തുടക്കം കുറിച്ചു.
The Four Pillars of the Franciscan Holy Year
The Franciscan Holy Year is built upon four foundational pillars that reflect the core values of St. Francis of Assisi's life and mission. These pillars serve as guiding principles for the faithful throughout this special year:
☮️ Peace (സമാധാനം)
St. Francis was a messenger of peace in a world torn by conflict. He greeted everyone with “Peace and Good” (Pax et Bonum). During this Holy Year, the Diocese invites all the faithful to become instruments of peace — in families, communities, and society. The call to peace is a call to reconciliation, forgiveness, and unity.
🙏 Poverty (ദാരിദ്ര്യം)
Francis embraced Lady Poverty as his bride. He renounced all worldly possessions to find true freedom in God. This pillar calls us to detach from materialism and consumerism, to live simply, share generously, and stand in solidarity with the poor and marginalized. It is an invitation to discover the richness of a life centered on God rather than on possessions.
🌿 Nature (പ്രകൃതി)
St. Francis is the patron saint of ecology, celebrated for his Canticle of the Creatures — a hymn of praise for Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and all creation. Echoing Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’, this pillar urges the faithful to care for our common home. It is a call to ecological conversion — to respect, protect, and nurture the environment as a sacred gift from God.
🤝 Fraternity (സാഹോദര്യം)
Francis saw every person as a brother or sister — regardless of status, faith, or background. Inspired by Pope Francis’s encyclical Fratelli Tutti, this pillar invites us to build bridges of dialogue, understanding, and cooperation. It calls for a renewed sense of universal brotherhood, where we see Christ in every person and work together for the common good.
About the Franciscan Holy Year
The Franciscan Holy Year was proclaimed by Pope Francis to commemorate the 800th anniversary of key events in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. These include:
The Canticle of the Creatures (1225) — one of the earliest works of Italian literature and a profound hymn of praise to God through creation
The Stigmata of St. Francis (1224) — when Francis received the sacred wounds of Christ on Mount La Verna, the first recorded stigmata in Church history
The Transitus of St. Francis (1226) — the death, or ‘passing over,’ of St. Francis on October 3, 1226, as he embraced Sister Death with joy and serenity
The Holy Year runs from March 2025 through 2026, encompassing a series of celebrations, pilgrimages, retreats, and pastoral initiatives across the universal Church.
Diocese of Cochin — A Call to Renewal
The Diocese of Cochin has embraced this Franciscan Holy Year as an opportunity for spiritual renewal and pastoral action. Under the guidance of Bishop Antony Kariyil, the diocese has organized various programs and events to bring the Franciscan charism alive in every parish, institution, and community.
Key initiatives include:
Special Masses and prayer services dedicated to the Franciscan charism across all parishes
Environmental awareness campaigns inspired by St. Francis’s love for creation
Outreach programs for the poor and marginalized embodying the spirit of Franciscan poverty
Peace and reconciliation retreats fostering dialogue and unity
Youth programs and catechesis centered on the Franciscan values of simplicity, joy, and service
The Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
— Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi
Join the Journey
All parishioners, religious communities, and institutions of the Diocese of Cochin are invited to actively participate in the Franciscan Holy Year. Let us walk together in the footsteps of St. Francis — embracing peace, poverty, care for creation, and fraternity — as we seek to renew our faith and deepen our commitment to the Gospel.
For updates on events, retreats, and programs related to the Franciscan Holy Year, stay connected with the Diocese of Cochin through our website and social media channels.