St. Francis of Assisi, after whom Pope Francis has taken his name, captures the spirit of Catholics because he’s the pre-eminent figure in imitating Christ.

He washes coins for the Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square, San Francisco, Calif., a tradition which began to keep ladies white gloves from getting tarnished back in the 1930s.

Saint Francis of Assisi made many contributions to Christianity. Each year on October 4, many Catholic churches celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

On Nov. 29, 1979, Pope John Paul II issued a papal bull that declared St. Francis of Assisi the patron of ecology and of those who promote ecology. In the bull, John Paul II wrote, ...

Friar Marco recalled the first visit of Pope Francis to Assisi in 2013, when he was first elected pope. “Since that Oct. 4, 2013, first trip to Assisi, the world has changed.

Philip Fruytiers (1610-1666), “St. Francis of Assisi” (photo: Register Files / Public Domain) Jimmy Akin Blogs October 4, 2013 St. Francis is one of the most famous saints in Church history.