Published : 2025-07-03

Francis Across the Ages: A Legacy of Humility, Peace, and Service. St. Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis in Light of Media Reports in 2025

Abstract

This article explores the spiritual and thematic ties between Saint Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis, focusing on how the Pope “from the end of the Earh” embodied the values of the Poor Fellow of Assisi in a modern context. The aim is to demonstrate their shared commitment to humility, poverty, dialogue, and closeness to marginalized groups, which collectively form the core of their spiritual programs and actions. The material analyzed includes papal documents, statements, and media narratives surrounding Pope Francis’s death in April 2025, encompassing 79 media reports from April 21-26, 2025. The study highlights key themes, such as the name “Francis” as a symbolic program, ecological awareness rooted in Franciscan spirituality, the renewal of the Church from the bottom up, interreligious dialogue, and lifestyle closeness to the poor. The most important conclusion is that both figures exemplify a radical, yet gentle spirituality centered on active love, humility, and service, leaving a lasting legacy of a Church committed to meeting others where they are, rather than ruling from a distance. Their shared example highlights faith rooted in compassion and solidarity.

Keywords:

Pope Francis, St Francis of Assisi, pontificate, interreligious dialogue, ecology, media, media narratives



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Hodalska, M., & Buksa, Łukasz. (2025). Francis Across the Ages: A Legacy of Humility, Peace, and Service. St. Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis in Light of Media Reports in 2025. Kościół I Prawo, 14(1), 79–92. https://doi.org/10.18290/kip2025.5

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Kościół i Prawo · ISSN 0208-7928 · e-ISSN 2544-5804 · DOI: 10.18290/kip

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