One of the pilgrimage destinations for Catholics - the New Church of Assisi

The New Church of Assisi, as the burial site of Saint Francis and the mother church of the Franciscan Order, is one of the pilgrimage destinations for Catholics. It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 2000. Saint Francis (Saint Francis of Assisi), Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), also known as Francis of Assisi, Saint Francisco. 'Francis' is an old translation, and today it is transliterated as 'Francesco' according to Italian pronunciation. Born into a wealthy merchant family in Assisi, Italy, he lived a life of luxury in his youth, but after experiencing war, he had an epiphany in his twenties, renounced his wealth, and sought poverty and seclusion. He begged for a living, wore coarse monk's robes, and went to a small church outside the city every day to pray devoutly (the church he is holding in his hand), spreading the gospel everywhere, and his life was full of legends, attracting devout Christians from all over Western Europe to this small church. Considering his influence, the Pope granted him the right to preach in hopes of suppressing the heretical doctrines that were emerging across Western Europe. From then on, Francesco led his followers to preach in marketplaces, under roadside trees, and even in threshing grounds, thus establishing the Order of Friars Minor. In paintings, Saint Francis is always depicted wearing a gray robe, and members of the Franciscan Order are also known as 'Greyfriars'. Many churches in Italy belong to the Franciscan Order, and the first missionaries to China were also members of the Order (during the Yuan and Ming dynasties). Saint Francis is one of the earliest saints to be canonized by the Roman Church in popular hagiographies. The Franciscan Order he founded, along with the Carmelite Order and the Carthusian Order, were among the earliest mendicant orders serving the sick, orphans, the elderly, and education. The Franciscan Order is also widespread in China, and its affiliated nun orders still serve the last lepers in China today. The cathedral and monastery were completed in 1253. The Basilica of Saint Francis consists of an upper and a lower church, one built on top of the other. If the crypt is included, there are actually three levels. The most famous part of the upper church is the 28 frescoes depicting the life of Saint Francis painted by Giotto. The Giotto frescoes at the top were severely damaged in an earthquake in September 1997. The art-loving Italians spent 37 million euros and nearly 10 years painstakingly restoring the over 300,000 shattered fragments. The crypt was sealed in the 15th century to prevent desecration by the laity and was not reopened until 1818. After the tomb was opened, the underground crypt of Saint Francis was added. The lower church is the burial place of Saint Francis, in Romanesque style with ribbed vaults, while the upper church has ribbed and pointed vaults, decorated with tracery windows. The upper church was severely damaged in a recent earthquake disaster. Both the upper and lower churches feature many religious frescoes painted by famous artists such as Giotto, Lorenzetti, and Pisano.