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Francis of Assisi

Founder of the Catholic Franciscan Order, Known for Poverty and Love of Nature

Those Who Made the Faith Clear · Sages & Theologians

ChristianityCatholicismThe Ideal of Poverty

Who they are

Francis (c. 1181–1226) was born to a wealthy merchant family in Assisi, Italy, and in his youth gave up all his property and inheritance for a life of destitute preaching, founding the Franciscan Order and advocating the imitation of Jesus’ poverty and humility. Known for legends of his love of nature and kindness to animals, he was named by the Catholic Church the patron saint of ecology and the environment, and the current Pope Francis takes his name from him. His peaceful meeting with an Islamic sultan is also seen by later ages as an early model of inter-religious dialogue.

Primary sourcesThe Little Flowers of St. FrancisChurch hagiographical sources

Key stories

The Sermon to the Birds

Legend says that as Francis walked he saw a flock of birds gathered by the road, and he stopped to preach to them, calling them "my brothers and sisters" and thanking the Creator for giving them wings and the freedom to fly, and the birds listened quietly without scattering — a legend that fixed his image of "brother and sister to all creation."

Relationships

Ally

📚Thomas Aquinas　A fellow important Catholic figure of the 13th century

Echoes today

Below are how modern works borrow or reinterpret this name or story — not the original material. The two differ, so keep them apart.

The name of the current Pope FrancisThe current pope, Jorge Bergoglio, chose "Francis" as his papal name in homage to this saint known for poverty and humility.

Patron saint of ecologyFor his legends of love of nature and kindness to animals, Francis was formally named patron saint of ecology and the environment by the Catholic Church, often linked to modern environmental issues.

Appears in

The Spread, Division, and Localization of FaithThe Poverty of Francis and the Reformation of Luther

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