Francis of Rome and Francis of Assisi

Leonardo Boff

In choosing his name, Pope Francis was indicating an agenda, a vision, and a sense of mission. Saint Francis, the most universally beloved saint, reformed the church by imitating Christ—in simplicity, poverty, and love for those on the margins. The spirit of St. Francis calls the church to embrace the poor, to promote peace and adopt an ecological consciousness. In embracing these values, Pope Francis has unleashed enormous hopes. Here Leonardo Boff, one of the leading figures of liberation theology as well as the global movement for justice and ecology, explores the connections between these two Francises—and the promise they hold for the church and the world today.