Why pilgrims come
Discover what makes San Damiano Sanctuary a place of pilgrimage
The Franciscan sanctuary where Francis heard the call to rebuild the Church, Clare and the Poor Ladies lived, and the Canticle of the Creatures took shape.
San Damiano holds several foundational Franciscan memories in one simple complex: Francis’s call before the crucifix, Clare’s community, and the Canticle of the Creatures. Move slowly through the chapel, choir, cloister, and garden.
What to notice
Look closely at the place and its story
“Rebuild my Church”
Pray where Francis received the call traditionally associated with the San Damiano Crucifix.
Clare and the Poor Ladies
Enter the spaces shaped by the first community of Poor Clares.
Canticle of the Creatures
Remember the praise Francis composed here amid illness and trial.
How to read this page
Sources, tradition, and what is verified
No verification date is listed, so current visitor details should be confirmed directly.
This page records the site’s tradition as “Catholic.” That wording describes the nature of the claim and keeps devotional tradition distinct from independently verified history.