Since 1973, Assisi has annually hosted the International Conference on Franciscan Studies, organized by the International Society of Franciscan Studies in collaboration with the Inter-University Center for Franciscan Studies, of which the University of Padua is a member. This event has become a fundamental reference point for the scientific community in the field of medieval and Franciscan studies.

This year's edition, scheduled from 16 to 18 October 2025, focuses on the Canticle of the Sun, a masterpiece of medieval Italian literature. The 53rd International Conference on Franciscan Studies will see the participation of Italian and international scholars, who will analyze the Canticle from different perspectives with a multidisciplinary approach.
The program will open with a presentation by Carlo Delcorno, member of the National Academy of Lincei, who will address the overall interpretation of the text. This will be followed by contributions on various aspects: Lino Leonardi on the manuscript tradition, Maria Sofia Lannutti on the medieval paraliturgical tradition, Rita Librandi on Francis and the 13th-century vernacular, Jacques Dalarun on the Canticle in the context of Franciscan lauds.
Other presentations will delve into specific themes such as death (Enrico Menestò), forgiveness and peace (Marco Bartoli), while others will offer broader perspectives: Carla Bino on Francis and the friars as "ioculatores Domini", Francesco Stella on the Bible and poetry in medieval Latin, Jean-Yves Tilliette on celestial bodies in medieval Latin literature.
The conference will be an event of great scientific relevance, which will not only take stock of the current state of studies on the Canticle of the Sun but will also open new research perspectives. 

To grant a wider participation, the event will be livestreamed on the website of the International Society of Franciscan Studies and on the Facebook page (@sisfassisi), making this important moment of discussion and reflection accessible to a global audience.