Who is St. Francis of Assisi? Why did the Pope chose to go by his name?
St. Francis' tomb is situated at the hilltop town on Assisi in Italy, where the saint was born here more than 840 years ago.
'The life of St. Francis teaches the way to holiness is giving up yourself, getting rid of things that hold us back in our life here, and just offer ourselves to the Lord,' said the Rev. Paul Vu, who was visiting in early March with a group of 50 Vietnamese-American parishioners from Santa Ana, California.
In 1182, St. Francis was born to a wealthy family in Assisi, which rises above a fertile valley in central Italy. Praying in front of a crucifix, he is said to have heard a call to reform the church. He aspired to strip everything down to the essentials in the service of God.
The Santuario della Spogliazione, which literally means stripping, is a sober stone church on the hillside. It marks the spot where he gave up even his clothes in front of his father, who disinherited him. St. Francis was accepted into the church by the bishop as an advocate of the poor and went on to found a religious order that's still active globally today, the Franciscans.
For Assisi's current bishop, the Rev. Domenico Sorrentino, St. Francis' renunciation of material encumbrances also signaled his love of creation and of peace.
'Francis, stripping himself, came back to nature in some sense. So we must receive nature as a gift of God, and respect this gift,' Sorrentino told The Associated Press.
During the Crusades, St. Francis befriended a Muslim sultan — their exchanges are still seen as an example of the kind of interfaith dialogue that St. John Paul II promoted by gathering leaders of the major global religions in Assisi during his papacy.
On why Pope Francis chose the name, Rev. Enzo Fortunato, who spent 30 years in Assisi and now leads the Vatican's committee on World Children's Day, says: 'He explained it in a very simple way, that he chose Francis' name because he's the man of peace, of the poor, of brotherhood. The man who loves and respects creation.' 'It's a name that contains a life programme,' he says.
Several of the pope's encyclicals — teaching documents for the church — pulled from Franciscan themes and quotes, including one about building a more inclusive church.
This year will mark the 800th anniversary of St. Francis' celebrated 'canticle of creatures,' where he praises God for the sun, the moon and other natural elements he refers to as brothers and sisters.
Pope Francis used its title for an encyclical highlighting the importance of taking care of the environment because it's a gift from God that humankind only gets to protect, not exploit.
The basilica is Assisi contains a cycle of more than two dozen frescoes illustrating crucial moments in St. Francis' life — including the 'spogliazione.'
Painted by Giotto at the end of the 13th century, they marked a turning point in Western art. Their realism and careful rendering of space and depth went far beyond what was common in the Middle Ages and presaged the Renaissance.
They were spared destruction in the 1997 earthquake that hit the region, killing four people in the basilica itself.
Across town is the Basilica di Santa Chiara, dedicated to St. Clare, who embraced radical poverty to imitate St. Francis. He made available to her and the growing group of women following her a local church — the beginning of the Poor Clares order, now present in 70 countries with 20,000 sisters.
In between the two churches, in the Santuario della Spogliazione, lies the Blessed Carlo Acutis, an Italian teen who died in 2006 and will become the church's first millennial saint when canonized in April.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
4 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Remembering Hiroshima
If you travel to Japan today and visit the city of Hiroshima, you'll find a peaceful place filled with parks, schools, trams, and the quiet sounds of city life. But on one morning in August, many years ago, Hiroshima became the centre of an event that would change the world forever. Every year, on the 6th of August, people all over the world remember Hiroshima Day—not just to think about a moment in history, but to remind everyone why peace is precious. The story of Hiroshima begins during World War II, a conflict that involved many countries and lasted from 1939 to 1945. By 1945, the war was nearly over, but fighting was still fierce in the Pacific. Scientists in America had developed a weapon unlike any other—a bomb that used the power locked inside atoms. This new 'atomic bomb' was the most powerful explosive ever made, and no one outside a small group of scientists and military leaders had any idea what it could do. On the morning of 6th August 1945, as people in Hiroshima went about their daily lives—children getting ready for school, workers heading to factories, shopkeepers opening their doors—an American plane called the Enola Gay flew high above the city. At 8:15 a.m., it dropped a single bomb, nicknamed 'Little Boy'. In a flash, the bomb exploded in the sky above Hiroshima, releasing a massive wave of heat, light, and energy. Buildings were flattened in seconds, windows shattered for miles, and fires broke out everywhere. The centre of the city was almost completely destroyed. The power of the atomic bomb was beyond anything the world had ever seen. In just a few moments, tens of thousands of people lost their lives. Many more were injured or made sick by the intense heat and radiation the bomb released. Survivors—who became known as hibakusha—faced a difficult road, struggling with injuries and illnesses that sometimes lasted for years. Yet, in the days and months that followed, the people of Hiroshima showed incredible courage. Families helped each other, strangers shared what little food and water they had, and doctors worked around the clock in makeshift hospitals. Slowly, the city began to rebuild. News of the bombing shocked people all over the globe. Some believed that using such a powerful weapon would finally bring the long, terrible war to an end. Others were horrified by the destruction and loss of life. Just three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. Shortly after, Japan surrendered, and World War II came to an end. But Hiroshima's story didn't end there. In the years that followed, the city became a symbol—a warning of the dangers of nuclear weapons and a hope for a more peaceful future. Each year, on Hiroshima Day, people gather at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, near the ruins of the old Genbaku Dome, one of the few buildings left standing after the blast. There, they hold a ceremony with speeches, songs, and the release of white doves, symbols of peace. Thousands of paper lanterns float down the river at sunset, carrying wishes and prayers for a world without war. Children in Hiroshima and around the world often learn the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who survived the bombing but later became sick because of the radiation. While she was in hospital, Sadako began folding origami cranes—paper birds that, in Japanese legend, grant a wish if you fold a thousand of them. Sadako folded over a thousand cranes, wishing for her own recovery and for peace. Today, children from all over the world send paper cranes to Hiroshima, and you can see thousands of colourful birds at the Children's Peace Monument in the city. Hiroshima Day isn't just about remembering the past. It's a time to think about the choices we make as individuals, communities, and countries. Scientists and leaders from many nations have worked to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world, and organisations like the United Nations encourage countries to solve problems by talking, not fighting. In schools, children learn about Hiroshima to understand why peace, kindness, and respect are important, even when disagreements happen. If you visit Hiroshima now, you'll see a vibrant, green city full of life. The Peace Memorial Park is quiet and beautiful, with flowers, trees, and the sound of the river flowing nearby. School groups gather to read poems, listen to survivors' stories, and promise to carry the message of peace into the future. The people of Hiroshima rebuilt their city and shared their message with the world: that the true strength of humanity lies not in powerful weapons, but in the courage to choose peace, the willingness to help others, and the dream of a safer world for everyone. ISTOCK The atomic bomb was called 'Little Boy' The bomb dropped over the city on 6 August 1945 was nicknamed 'Little Boy.' It was the first atomic bomb ever used in war. ISTOCK A building survived at ground zero The Genbaku Dome (now known as the Atomic Bomb Dome) was one of the only structures left standing near the bomb's blast centre. Today, it's a symbol of peace and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A clock counts the days since the last nuclear test There is a Peace Watch Tower in the city that records how many days have passed since the world's last nuclear weapon test. Hiroshima's trees came back to life Although many trees were destroyed in the blast, some—including ancient camphor and ginkgo trees—sprouted new leaves and still grow today as 'survivor trees.' Children send messages of peace Every year, students from around the world write letters and send paper cranes to be displayed at the Children's Peace Monument. Peace Flame The Peace Flame, lit in 1964, will stay burning in the park until every nuclear weapon in the world is destroyed. City of Peace After the war, the city dedicated itself to promoting peace and nuclear disarmament, welcoming visitors from around the world. Origami cranes Inspired by Sadako Sasaki's story, people from all over the world fold paper cranes and send them to the Peace Memorial Park, wishing for peace. ISTOCK Lanterns float on the river every year On Hiroshima Day, thousands of paper lanterns are released on the Motoyasu River at sunset, each carrying a message of hope or remembrance.
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
Eighty years on from Hiroshima
At 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, a nuclear bomb exploded just above Hiroshima, instantly killing at least 70,000 people. Another 70,000 died of injuries and radiation sickness before the year ended. Three days later, a second weapon exploded over Nagasaki, killing 40,000 on the day. In the 80 years since, nuclear weapons have not been detonated again in anger even though the possessor states have swelled from one to nine, and the number and sophistication of the weapons has increased considerably. A norm of non-use appears to have been established. However, norms — shared expectations of behaviour — are not immutable. Recent developments including hostilities involving nuclear possessors, an undermining of the global rules-based and treaties-based order, and nuclear modernisation are putting the norm of non-use under immense strain. Lessons from 1945 Arguably, no one has worked more passionately to eliminate nuclear weapons entirely than the Hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic attacks. Their testimony created a powerful moral and ethical case against nuclear use, reminding us of the human consequences of — arguably for some — a demonstration of American resolve and technological prowess. Yet the respect that they are accorded today was hard won. Japan was under American occupation after the war, and information on the effects of the nuclear bombings was suppressed. According to one survivor from Nagasaki, shortly after the bombing, U.S. Brig Gen Thomas Farrell announced that all those affected by the attack had died and that there were no continuing effects of the bomb. Relief centres were shut down. An additional 50,000 people died by December without understanding what ailed them. Knowledge about radiation sickness became widespread in Japan only after a fishing boat, Fukuryu Maru, was accidentally exposed to nuclear fallout. The U.S.'s 1954 thermonuclear test, codenamed Castle Bravo, ended up twice as powerful as estimated, spreading radioactive ash well beyond the officially designated warning zone and to the vessel floating 86 miles away from the test site. All crew members fell seriously ill from acute radiation poisoning. Thus it was that nine years after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that Japan began to understand the nature of radiation sickness: the bomb killed not just by explosion, instantly, but painfully, over time. The survivors then grouped together as the Nihon Hidankyo and fanned the globe to educate people on the horrors of their experience. It is debatable whether the norm of non-use owes more to the moral and ethical case against nuclear use made by the Hibakusha or by the logic of nuclear deterrence. 'What deters' is a question that has occupied policymakers for decades. And while the total number of nuclear weapons has fallen from their Cold War peak, today's nukes are more sophisticated and designed for use in a range of situations. Much money and effort has been spent in developing more 'useable' nukes. It is difficult to know whether to worry more about a thermonuclear weapon that could destroy a city several times over, or to fear tactical weapons that are designed to target a specific location with deadly accuracy. For 80 years we have decided that nuclear weapons are beyond the pale: any nuclear use now would let the genie out of the bottle. The norm of non-use Ultimately, the norm of non-use rests on a conscious decision to brand nuclear weapons as different. There is no legal basis for the circumscribing of their use. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) limits the spread of nukes; the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty bans nuclear tests; neither prohibits use. (The 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has not been signed by any nuclear possessor.) However, the NPT's exhortation to nuclear states to work towards total nuclear disarmament 'in good faith' puts the weapons in a separate category. The International Court of Justice's 1996 advisory opinion on nuclear weapons constrains their use by stating that the use or threat of use 'would generally be contrary' to humanitarian and other international law, even though the Court was unable to reach a clear decision on their legality. Together, these treaties shore up the norm of non-use, without legally proscribing them. Against this backdrop, recent nuclear threats bandied about by Russia over Ukraine have severely tested the special categorisation of nukes. Closer home, during Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India 'will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail'. A 'limited' operation appears to have escalated quickly to acquire a nuclear element. We are influenced by the Hibakusha's testimony today only because Fukuryu Maru's misfortune connected radiation sickness to nukes. It is also unlikely to be a coincidence that the Nihon Hidankyo were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 for their disarmament efforts after the nuclear genie reared its head in Europe. They had been nominated multiple times, but it took almost 70 years for the survivors' efforts to be recognised. Eighty years after nuclear weapons were used in anger, we are in danger of slipping into complacency over nuclear use. It took the miscalculation of America's thermonuclear test for the truth about nuclear fallout to become widely understood. We should not wait for another misstep before the dangers of nuclear miscalculation are appreciated again. Priyanjali Malik writes on politics and international relations
Mint
11 hours ago
- Mint
Krill fishery in Antarctica shut down after record catch triggers unprecedented early closure
MIAMI (AP) — Officials have shut down early the remote krill fishery near Antarctica after trawling for the tiny crustacean — a vital food source for whales that also helps fight climate change — exceeded the seasonal catch limit for the first time. The unprecedented early closure of the fishery follows a report by The Associated Press last week detailing a record surge in the krill catch after a longstanding conservation framework was allowed to lapse with no plan in place to handle growing pressures in the world's southernmost fishery. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, or CCAMLR, the international organization that manages the fishery, declined to comment but confirmed the closure earlier this month of the 2024-25 season, which should have extended until December, after fishing hit the 620,000 metric ton limit. The U.S., Russia, China and two dozen other governments last year failed to approve a new management plan that would have mandated spreading out the area in which krill can be caught and create a California-sized reserve along the environmentally sensitive Antarctic Peninsula. In the absence of a deal, industrial trawlers were allowed this season to essentially fish anywhere at any time, including in smaller habitats preferred by whales, penguins and seals. In one hot spot, the catch through June 30 was nearly 60% higher than all of last season's haul, according to an internal CCAMLR report obtained by the AP. Krill is one of the most abundant marine species in the world, with an estimated biomass of 63 million metric tons. But advances in fishing, climate change and growing demand for krill's Omega-3 rich oil – for fishmeal, pet food and human dietary supplements — have increased pressure on the krill stocks. In the 2023-24 season, a fleet of 12 trawlers from mostly Norway and China caught 498,350 tons of krill — until now the largest harvest since CCAMLR began collecting catch data in 1973. Underscoring the competition between humans and whales, three humpback whales were found dead or seriously injured last year in the long, cylindrical nets deployed by the vessels to vacuum up the paper-clip sized crustacean. Krill aren't just vital to marine ecosystems. Increasingly, researchers are focusing on their role as a bulwark against climate change. One peer-reviewed study found that krill remove from the atmosphere and store in the ocean 20 million tons of carbon annually. That's the equivalent of taking off the road 5 million cars every year. This story was supported by funding from the Walton Family Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Contact AP's global investigative team at Investigative@ or
