St. Francis: ‘The pressing demand of a profoundly human archetype’

Cardinal Spengler on the relevance of Francis of Assisi after 800 years

The Church celebrates in 2026 the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, which has been commemorated with exposition of the saint’s relics, plenary indulgences in Franciscan churches or churches dedicated to his name, and several conferences in Rome and beyond.

Cardinal Jaime Spengler, OFM. Credit: Vatican Media.

But why is a friar who…