What would Francis of Assisi make of his fame today?

Francis of Assisi: Famous for ecology, pacifism or fascism?

One could safely say that Francis of Assisi's life — and afterlife — is defined by paradox.

He embraced poverty, yet lies entombed today in a grand basilica in his native Assisi, Italy, with frescoes by renowned medieval artists.

He advocated meekness, yet hundreds of thousands venerated his remains when they went on public display earlier this year to commemorate 800 years since his death on October 3, 1226.

So, why has this Catholic saint inspired papal encyclicals , ecological activism, global pet‑blessing rituals — and even the propaganda of former Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini? And what might Francis make of this fame that he'd shunned while alive?

Born in Assisi, a hill town in central Italy, in 1181 or 1182, he was first named Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone. His father, a cloth merchant with trade links to France, renamed him Francesco.

Early Franciscan hagiographers — medieval writers who recorded his life and shaped how later generations understood him — describe him as a lively, sociable young man who enjoyed singing, parties and the privileges of wealth.

However, he didn't want to join his father's trade; he dreamed of becoming a knight.

本文の著作権はDeutsche Welleにあります。