Celebrating The Town of Assisi during World War II
Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
2026 Blog #29
August 24, 2026
This past week I spent a glorious time in Assisi, Italy. It was part of a broader trip to Italy that included the wedding of a friend and an extensive trip to Rome. We wanted to add Assisi to our journey as this is the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Leo XIV proclaimed that the entire year is a Jubilee to celebrate this saint’s life. We did have a wonderful trip and learned a lot about St. Francis, but that blog will wait for another day. I learned something new about the town of Assisi that I wish to share in this blog.
Unlike many places in Italy, the town of Assisi escaped major bombing and destruction during World War II. It is high in the Apennine Mountains and has no industrial infrastructure. Fortunately for the residents of this town, neither the Axis nor the Allies thought that it would be productive to bomb this small, mountainous town. During the Nazi occupation, it was declared a “hospital town” and used to treat soldiers who had been medically evacuated. Despite its lack of military importance, it played a major role in assisting and protecting, fleeing Jews.
The town, with its mountains, convents and many monasteries, was ideal for hiding refugees. This infrastructure and natural assets combined with the long history of the Franciscan Order which was founded on housing the destitute and refugees and caring for those in need. Housing Jewish refugees was a natural extension. By order of the Catholic Church Hierarchy, Catholic groups in Assisi made this a mission.
Jews had faced a relatively small risk when the Italian government was intact, but with the fall of the Mussolini government, the Nazi occupation had begun, and the order was given to round Jews up for transport to concentration camps. It was Father Rufino Iccacci, was one of the major figures in this Jewish rescue.
Father Iccacci’s bishop first instructed him to begin the mission to shelter and protect any Jewish family who arrived and requested shelter. Father Rufino embraced this mission and, one family at a time, Jews were given shelter within the many monasteries and convents.
Father Iccacci knew that it would be impractical to keep all these refugees hidden within buildings. We know that the Nazi occupation would end in 1944, but he had no way of knowing this. Monks who transcribed ancient manuscripts were given the new task of forging papers which gave Jews documents claiming that they were citizens of other towns. Soon, all of those being hidden had papers which made them Catholic Citizens.
Father Iccacci also began classes to teach these Jewish refugees the basics of Christianity. They learned the Hail Mary, the Apostles Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer. When those protected learned these prayers, they were outfitted in Friar’s robes for the men and the women were given habits from the order of Clares, the female equivalent of the Franciscan Friars. Empowered by the knowledge of these prayers and wearing outfits that were normal for nuns and Franciscan Brothers. In short, the refugees were hiding “in plain sight.”
Of course, food supplies became a difficulty. The Nazis imposed a food rationing program which was inadequate to feed all the refugees. Father Iccacci worked out arrangements with area farmers to donate food to the monastery. These donations went to feed the 200 refugee families housed in 26 different convents, monasteries, and safe houses.
The Nazis finally left Assisi after nine months as the Allied forces continued their drive and finally liberated the town. During the occupation, not one of the sheltered Jews was killed or imprisoned. Some might call this a miracle. Others might celebrate the diligence and dedication of the Franciscans and the good people of Assisi.
May we all be as faithful and righteous as those who sheltered Jews in Assisi.
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