SAN FRANCISCO — A collection of relics and treasures connected to St. Francis of Assisi is now on display at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, with public visiting hours continuing through Nov. 28.
The cathedral’s dedicated exhibit page says visitors are welcome from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except during weekday Mass from noon to 1 p.m. The cathedral itself is at 1111 Gough Street in Cathedral Hill and is generally open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What relics are in San Francisco?
The cathedral identifies one of the featured objects as the Blood of St. Francis — La Verna, describing it as the bandage relic associated with the stigmata of St. Francis at La Verna.
A separate cathedral Jubilee page also identifies the coperchio di Cimabue, a wooden cover associated with the saint’s body, among the treasures brought from Assisi. The cathedral says the relics and treasures have traveled beyond Assisi in connection with the Jubilee Year of St. Francis.
What are the visiting hours?
| When | Visiting information |
|---|---|
| Daily through Nov. 28 | 9 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Weekdays, noon–1 p.m. | Relic visiting pauses during Mass |
| Cathedral building hours | Generally 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; tours are not allowed during posted liturgy times |
The cathedral’s two current pages differ by one day on when the public display began: the dedicated “Sacred Relics & Masterpieces” page says Oct. 16, while the broader Jubilee page says Oct. 17. That discrepancy does not affect the current visiting window; both say the display continues through Nov. 28 with the same 9 a.m.–4 p.m. hours and weekday noon-Mass exception.
Where is the exhibit?
The display is at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, 1111 Gough St., San Francisco, CA 94109.
The cathedral asks visitors to respect liturgy schedules. If you are making a special trip, check the cathedral calendar for services in addition to the exhibit hours.
Are the California mission models part of the exhibit?
Yes. The cathedral says 21 detailed scale replicas of the California missions, originally created for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island, are displayed alongside the St. Francis relics. The models are on loan from Fred and Nancy Cline.
That makes the visit partly a religious exhibition and partly a California-history display, including a model of Mission San Francisco de Asís, better known as Mission Dolores.
Do individual visitors need a reservation?
The dedicated cathedral page says visitors are welcome during the posted hours and provides a contact for group reservations and tours through the Knights of St. Francis of Assisi. It does not list a standard ticket price or an individual reservation requirement on the page we reviewed.
Because the cathedral is an active place of worship, visitors should expect access to pause around services and should follow any instructions posted inside the building.
Why are the relics in San Francisco in 2026?
The cathedral is presenting the exhibition during the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, alongside San Francisco’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Mission San Francisco de Asís. The Archdiocese’s Oct. 17 Rosary Rally also included veneration of the relics at the cathedral and described the event as open to all.
Sources and reporting
- Cathedral — Sacred Relics & Masterpieces 2026 ↗
- Cathedral — Jubilee Year of St. Francis ↗
- Archdiocese of San Francisco — Rosary Rally ↗