POPE FRANCIS: INSPIRED BY ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Our beloved Pope Francis is the man to be honoured as we are celebrating his first death anniversary.  We love his preaching, especially when he preached of peace and acceptance and reflected those values through his actions. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. Throughout his papacy, Francis was noted for his humility and emphasis on God’s mercy.

Pope Francis has revealed that he was inspired and chose his papal name to honour St. Francis of Assisi, the guiding light representing a commitment to poverty, work for peace, and environmental stewardship. "The man of the poor, the man who loved and cared for creation", which emphasises humility, simplicity, and evangelical poverty.

He views St. Francis as a "wayfarer" who brings God’s love to the marginalised, promoting a "poor Church for the poor" and a lifestyle centred on simplicity rather than material wealth.

Key Aspects of Pope Francis's Thoughts on St. Francis of Assisi:

1. The "Poor Man" and Simplicity: Pope Francis highlights St. Francis as a figure who stripped away worldliness, vanity, and pride. He advocates for a "Church of the poor" that avoids becoming a "pastry shop Church" which enjoys nice things but lacks true spiritual depth.

   
   

2. Care for Creation ("Laudato Si"): Inspired by St. Francis's "Canticle of the Creatures," Pope Francis highlights the saint's profound respect for nature and his call to protect the environment rather than greedily exploit it.

   
   

3. A "Wayfarer" for Peace: Pope Francis sees St. Francis as a peacemaker who crossed borders and sought dialogue (like when he visited an Egyptian Sultan). He encourages a "culture of encounter" that builds bridges, similar to St. Francis's approach.

   
   

4. A Living Gospel: The Pope emphasizes that St. Francis teaches preaching through one’s life and actions rather than just words, embodying a "life program".

   
   

5. Ecological Conversion and Integral Ecology: In his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis draws heavily on St. Francis's "Canticle of the Creatures," which sees creation as a sister, a mother, and a mirror of God’s love. He highlights that St. Francis was not merely a romantic lover of nature, but someone who understood the deep interconnection between caring for the environment and social justice—a concept he terms "integral ecology".

   
   

6. A "Poor Church for the Poor": Pope Francis emphasizes that St. Francis renounced wealth not for its own sake, but to fully imitate Christ and to depend entirely on God’s providence. He echoes St. Francis’s mission to rebuild the church, not through power, but through humility and service to the marginalized, including lepers, migrants, and the homeless.

   
   

7. Instrument of Peace: Pope Francis often notes that St. Francis was a man of peace, especially citing his peace mission during the Crusades. He argues that true Franciscan peace is not "saccharine" or purely a pantheistic harmony, but rather a "peace of Christ" rooted in love and the cross.

   
   

8. "Fratelli Tutti" and Human Fraternity: In his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis uses the example of St. Francis to advocate for universal brotherhood. The letter calls for social friendship and a rejection of the "throwaway culture" that discards the poor, elderly, and unborn.

   
   

9. A "New Creation": Pope Francis has stated that St. Francis’s journey began with the "gaze of the crucified Jesus" in the Church of San Damiano, which transformed him. He calls on Christians to be "re-created" by this same love. 

Who is Saint Francis for Pope Francis

• "For me, Francis of Assisi is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation."

• "Francis is also the man of peace."

• "Francis of Assisi gives us this spirit of peace."

• "The poor man who wanted a poor Church."

• "Then right away, thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi."

• "Small yet strong in the love of God, like Saint Francis of Assisi, all of us as Christians are called to watch over and protect the fragile world in which we live."

• "Francis of Assisi represents poverty, peace, and the love of creation."

• "St. Francis of Assisi still urges the Church to live its fidelity to Christ and its mission in our time."

• "One must put oneself in the school of the Poverello."

• "In his evangelical life we find the way to follow in the footsteps of Jesus."

• "Those who follow St Francis must learn to be steadfast and walking."

• "Steadfast in contemplation, in prayer; and then moving forward, walking in witness."

• "Saint Francis listened to Jesus speaking to him and responded generously."

• "Francis of Assisi was a wayfarer who drew close to the people."

• "He reduced the distance between the Church and the people."

• "Francis of Assisi is the man who loved and cared for creation."

• "The name Francis came into my heart thinking of the poor."

• "How I would love a Church which is poor and for the poor!"

• "Francis of Assisi reveals the essence of Christianity."

• "St. Francis continues to inspire us to care for our common home."

 Pope Francis often presents St. Francis of Assisi as the ultimate model of simplicity and humility. He highlights how Francis embraced a life of poverty not as a deprivation but as a path to spiritual freedom and closeness to God, showing that holiness is grounded in living simply and serving others. The Pope emphasizes that St. Francis is a man of peace. He repeatedly points out that Francis approached all people—including enemies and outcasts—with respect and reconciliation, showing that Christian faith is inseparable from the work of peace and justice.

Francis of Assisi, according to Pope Francis, is a protector of creation. The Pope often references how Francis loved animals, cared for the environment, and saw nature as a reflection of God, inspiring modern ecological responsibility as expressed in Laudato Si’. Pope Francis admires St. Francis’s ability to live the Gospel radically. For him, Francis is an example of someone who fully followed Christ, letting the teachings of the Gospel shape every aspect of his life, from poverty to humility to compassion. The Pope stresses that St. Francis embodies joyful service to others. Francis’s joy did not come from material comforts but from generosity, helping the poor, and forming authentic human relationships, showing that happiness is tied to selfless love.

Pope Francis sees in St. Francis a figure who bridges the gap between the Church and the people. He presents him as someone who brought the message of Christ out of the walls of institutions and into the daily lives of ordinary people through example and presence. According to the Pope, St. Francis models faith expressed in action. Prayer and contemplation are inseparable from practical love for neighbours, especially the marginalised, demonstrating that true faith is lived, not just professed.

Francis of Assisi is described by Pope Francis as a voice of courage and witness. By rejecting worldly power and wealth, he challenged the Church and society to reconsider priorities, urging a focus on what truly matters: love, justice, and peace. Pope Francis often highlights that St. Francis was inclusive and compassionate. He welcomed those who were marginalised, sick, or poor, showing that the Christian mission is to love without distinction and to care for the vulnerable.

Finally, Pope Francis presents St. Francis as a source of inspiration for the modern world. His life, focused on simplicity, care for creation, peace, and joyful service, continues to challenge and guide contemporary Christians toward a more authentic, faithful, and compassionate life.