The University of Pisa, through its Centre for Innovation and the Dissemination of Culture (CIDIC), will begin 2026 with a major, wide-ranging programme entitled “St Francis 1226–2026. Spirituality, Dialogue and Fraternity in a Global World”. Taking place throughout February, March and April, the initiative will involve the entire city with a series of events designed to rediscover the figure of St Francis, whose legacy remains more relevant than ever today, 800 years after his death on 3 October 1226.
This is a rich and ambitious programme, made possible thanks to the support, patronage and collaboration of a wide range of institutions, organisations and local partners.
The programme will open on 12 February 2026 with the national premiere of the new theatre production Francesco, starring Aldo Cazzullo and Angelo Branduardi. It will run until 19 April, featuring a series of high-profile guests including Tomaso Montanari (19 February), Luciano Fontana (27 February), Alessandro Barbero (4 March), Agnese Pini, Franco Cardini, Giovanna Botteri and many others.
On 21 March, the Cathedral of Pisa will host a special evening: Oscar-winning composer and pianist Nicola Piovani will conduct the works Pietas and Canticle of the Creatures in the evocative setting of the Duomo. In the evening, the event will also feature readings by Sergio Rubini and performances by the University of Pisa Choir and Orchestra and the Filarmonica Pisana.
One of the initiatives is an educational project involving a competition for third-year lower secondary school students across the province. They are invited to reflect on the legacy of St Francis. The winning class will receive a school trip to Franciscan sites.
At the press conference launching the programme were Professor Riccardo Zucchi, Rector of the University of Pisa; Professor Saulle Panizza, Director of CIDIC; Dr Claudia Napolitano, Head of Public Engagement Activities at CIDIC; and Professor Mauro Ronzani and Professor Pierluigi Consorti of the University of Pisa, who collaborated in designing the programme.
Professor Riccardo Zucchi, Rector of the University of Pisa, commented:
“St Francis is a truly multifaceted figure, with an enormous impact across many fields. He is a saint who founded a religious order, but his cultural contribution — to the Italian language, the visual arts and ecology — should not be overlooked. St Francis therefore embodies many different dimensions. More broadly, he represents the power of hope, courage and faith. He is one of the most inspiring figures of our culture and civilisation, transcending the confines of Christianity. This is the message we wish to convey not only to younger generations, but also to the new populations and ethnic groups that will shape the civilisation of the future. As a cultural institution and a university, our mission is to pass on the best that our traditions have produced. For this reason, I welcomed with particular enthusiasm the proposal to dedicate CIDIC’s 2026 activities to the figure of St Francis.”
Professor Saulle Panizza, Director of the CIDIC, added:
“The University has made an enormous effort for this programme, not only in terms of the number and quality of the events, but also because we wanted to make the entire programme freely accessible to all citizens and students. This was made possible thanks to the collaboration of numerous partner organisations that contributed to the overall investment, and thanks to the expertise within CIDIC — the Centre for Innovation and the Dissemination of Culture — which includes a publishing hub, a music hub and a multimedia hub.”
The events will take place at various venues across the city, including Palazzo della Sapienza, Teatro Verdi, Pala Todisco, Pisa Cathedral, Polo Carmignani, Cineclub Arsenale, and the Museum of Graphics at Palazzo Lanfranchi.
All events within the programme “St Francis 1226–2026. Spirituality, Dialogue and Fraternity in a Global World” will be free and open to the public.
Further information is available at: www.sanfrancesco2026.unipi.it.
