Pope Francis, by his initial choice of a name, seemed to offer a preview of his agenda, vision, and sense of mission. In Francis of Assisi, a saint who recalled the church to the image of Jesus, the pope found a potent symbol of reform. A church inspired by St. Francis embraces the poor and those on the margins, eschews pomp and power, promotes peace and care for creation. Certainly, by embracing and modeling these values, Pope Francis has unleashed enormous hopes. In this enthusiastic work, Leonardo Boff explores the connections between the two Francises--and the promise they hold for "a new springtime" for the church. (back cover).

This guidebook describes the Way of St Francis a 550km month-long pilgrimage trail from Florence through Assisi to Rome. Split into 28 day stages, the walk begins in Florence and finishes in the Vatican City. Stages range from 8km to 30km with plenty to see, including ancient ruins, picturesque towns, national treasures, and stunning churches. This comprehensive guidebook fits in a jacket pocket or rucksack, and contains information on everything from accommodation and transport in Italy, to securing your credential (pilgrim identity card), budgeting, what to take, and where to do laundry. Stories of Francis of Assisi's life are also included. Although the route includes climbs and descents of up to 1200m, no special equipment is required - although your hiking boots and socks definitely need to get along. Following the steps of heroes, conquerors and saints on this pilgrim trail is manageable all year round, but is best done from April to June and mid-August to October. Route maps are given for every stage, and basic Italian phrases are included in the guidebook.

A compelling biography of Francis for readers of any faith and none. A paperback version of this bestseller.

The St. Francis Camino (also known as the Way of St. Francis) is a spiritual walking pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Francis through central Italy between Laverna and Rome. It can be walked either north or south. This edition conceives of the walk beginning in Greccio, site of the first Nativity scene, and finishing with the goal of Assisi. Divided into ten stages, the 160-km trek is an intimate way to connect spiritually with the humble saint from Assisi by walking on the same land he walked. This guidebook offers practical tips regarding packing, traveling in Italy, setting up GPX tracks, as well as obtaining the Pilgrim's Passport and Testimonium. Each stage includes daily distances, altitude gains and losses, surface type, duration, and level of difficulty. Next is a brief description of the stage with useful notes as well as a succinct textual description of the route. Lastly, there is a list of Franciscan and spiritual sites along each day's route. Yet, this book is intended to serve more as a spiritual, or Franciscan, companion book. As such, it focuses less on step-by-step instructions and more on the spiritual aspect of pilgrimage. With a foreword by the Archbishop of Lucca, Mons. Paolo Giulietti, this book includes essays on spirituality, daily Franciscan reflections, writings and prayers by St. Francis as well as the early Franciscan biographers. Additionally, there are traditional Catholic and Franciscan prayers for guidance before, during and after the journey. Walking in the footsteps of the "Poverello" -- from Greccio, representing the birth of Christ, to Assisi, his city -- is an unparalleled journey into the heart and spirit of St. Francis. And this book will bring it to life.

This biography of St. Francis of Assisi addresses every phase of his life and work. -- Dust jacket.

A biography which brings out his quality of holiness against the background of his weaknesses, the defects of his character and his deep-rooted superstition.

From the moment that Jorge Mario Bergoglio stepped onto the loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica, having taken the name of Francis, history already had been made. To identify himself in that moment as the Bishop of Rome rather than Pope already suggested a different approach to the Petrine ministry than what we have come to know. Pope Francis's words and actions since that day have only confirmed it - dramaticaly at times. Who is Francis, Bishop of Rome? In this short biography, Fr. Michael Collins, international author and Vatican expert, introduces readers to the man now called to lead the Catholic Church.

Francis of Assisi is pre-eminently the saint of the Middle Ages. Owing nothing to church or school he was truly theodidact, and if he perhaps did not perceive the revolutionary bearing of his preaching, he at least always refused to be ordained priest. He divined the superiority of the spiritual priesthood. Saint Francis of Assisi (Italian: San Francesco d'Assisi), born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, informally named as Francesco (1181/1182 - 3 October 1226), was an Italian Catholic friar, deacon and preacher. He founded the men's Order of Friars Minor, the women's Order of Saint Clare, the Third Order of Saint Francis and the Custody of the Holy Land. Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history. Pope Gregory IX canonized Francis on 16 July 1228. Along with Saint Catherine of Siena, he was designated Patron saint of Italy. He later became associated with patronage of animals and the natural environment, and it became customary for Catholic and Anglican churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of 4 October. He is often remembered as the patron saint of animals. In 1219, he went to Egypt in an attempt to convert the Sultan to put an end to the conflict of the Crusades.[6] By this point, the Franciscan Order had grown to such an extent that its primitive organizational structure was no longer sufficient. He returned to Italy to organize the Order. Once his community was authorized by the Pope, he withdrew increasingly from external affairs. Francis is also known for his love of the Eucharist.[7] In 1223, Francis arranged for the first Christmas live nativity scene.[8][9][2] According to Christian tradition, in 1224 he received the stigmata during the apparition of Seraphic angels in a religious ecstasy [10] making him the first recorded person in Christian history to bear the wounds of Christ's Passion.[11] He died during the evening hours of 3 October 1226, while listening to a reading he had requested of Psalm 142.

Brazilian Leonardo Boff explores the relevance of St. Francis to contemporary spirituality and to the construction of a new church. Boff shows how "Il Poverello," the "Little Poor Man" of the 12th century embodies the Church's preferential option for the poor" As a "model of gentleness and care," Francis exemplifies how the spiritual and the social are never separate, but intimately bound together.