Francis of Assisi: a man for all seasons

In a restless world scarred by division, inequality, and environmental degradation, Francis of Assisi, presents a compelling blueprint of how we can live with courage and compassion. Centuries after his passing, his witness continues to inspire people of all faiths and those with none. He remains, a man for all seasons. Today we are commemorating his feast.

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Francis was a peacemaker, a servant of the poor, and a fervent advocate of creation.

He lived during a time akin to our current one, one of economic inequality, social unrest, religious complacency, and environmental neglect.

A man of peace

In a violent age where Perugia and Assisi were at constant loggerheads, he chose the path of peace, beginning with peace within himself.

He crossed battle lines not to fight, but to reconcile. One of the most striking moments in his life came during the fifth Crusade, when he travelled unarmed to meet Sultan al-Kamil in Egypt. Instead of clashing swords, the two men exchanged respect. They did not convert each other, but they listened to each other, becoming brothers rather than foes. This encounter reminds us that peace comes from understanding and accepting each other’s side of the coin.

A voice for the poor

Francis did not just serve the poor. He became one of them. He lived with the outcast, served the sick, and embraced those whom society had rejected. His rejection of prosperity was a radical act of solidarity with those who had no choice at all. He did not offer charity; he restored their dignity.

He reminded the Church, and still does today, that the Gospel starts at the margins of society.

Whilst our GDP may have registered a strong growth so does the gap between those who have and those who don’t widen. Whilst rapid development has brought both opportunity and inequality, the Franciscan ethos urges us to ask if we are measuring success in economic gains only, or in human dignity. Francis compels us to prioritise people over profit.

Beyond a gentle dreamer

Too often, the popular iconography portrays him as a gentle man preaching to birds. While he loved birds deeply, this iconography risks undermining his true character.

Francis was no idealist dreamer. He challenged the status quo and stood assertively before the powerful church and civil authorities of his times in rags, risking being burned at the stake as a heretic like so many others. He firmly rebuked pride, greed, hypocrisy, and priviledge. His simplicity was not weakness. His humility was not naivety. It was a radical alternative to the greedy and status seeking of his age.

An advocate of creation

Long before environmental issues became mainstream, Francis lived in harmony with nature. He saw nature not as a resource to be exploited but part of the cosmos. The sun, the moon, the birds, the wind – all were part of the same family/creation. His Canticle of the Creatures is not just poetry but also a bold manifesto.

In today’s context, where environmental degradation is often the victim of economic progress, the message of Francis has never been more urgent. He challenges us to embrace creation as our common home.

A man for all

Although Francis was a man of God and sought to follow zealously his Master’s footsteps, Francis’s appeal goes beyond religious boundaries. He speaks to anyone who longs for a more compassionate, just and humane world.

He calls everyone to become instruments of peace in a fractured world.

He challenges us to care for creation, not as caretakers, but as brothers/sisters of our common home.

In a time that craves authenticity, St. Francis remains a mentor to many. As a former Franciscan Capuchin and now an MP, I proudly still cherish and uphold the Franciscan ethos.

May we have the courage to follow where he walked: humbly, boldly, and with compassion.

If we did so, the world would be a better place to live in.

(This article was published on Times of Malta – 4 October, 2025)