Italian theologian monk born in Assisi, a city then integrated into the territory of the Duchy of Spoleto, founder of the Order of Friars Minor (1209). Son of a wealthy local merchant, he lived there until his early youth and was a prisoner of war (1202-1293) during the dispute between Assisi and Perugia. After a vision (1205) at Spoleto, he gave himself up to severe asceticism and, in front of his father, renounced his possessions and took a vow of absolute poverty. He rejected the clergy's attachment to their privileges and went on to defend life according to the Gospels, despising the pomp, sustaining themselves from their own work and preaching the love of nature and the word of God.
With a growing number of followers, he went to Rome with 11 companions to ask Pope Innocent III to approve his rule of life (1210), in which he was attended and also authorized to preach penance and to adopt the designation of brothers minors. Back in Assisi, the group settled in Porciúncula, the first convent of the Franciscan order, located outside the city limits.
The Order was canonically recognized at the IV Lateran Council (1215) and the Franciscan rule was approved (1223) by Pope Honorius III. It is said that from then onwards the stigmatization of Saint Francis took place: wounds similar to those of Christ in Christ appeared on his hands, feet and back. cross, marks he did everything to hide until death, as well as a progressive blindness caused by a disease contracted during his preaching at the East.
Still trying to improve his health he lived in Rieti and later in Siena, but not getting better he returned to Assisi, where he remained until his death. Temporarily buried in the church of São Jorge, his remains were transferred (1230) to the lower church of the basilica built in his memory in the same city. San Francisco was canonized (1232), and is celebrated on October 4th.
Figure copied from the CADE MEU SANTO website:
http://www.cademeusanto.com.br/
Source: http://www.dec.ufcg.edu.br/biografias/
Order F - Biography - Brazil School
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biografia/sao-francisco-de-assis.htm