Francis of Assisi

Italian founder of the Franciscan Order who embraced radical poverty, preached to birds, and received the stigmata — the first person in Christian history recorded as receiving the wounds of Christ in his own flesh — and who is the most beloved saint in Catholic history.

Embodied the Christocentric mysticism of radical poverty and brotherhood with all creatures — 'Brother Sun, Sister Moon' — creating a spirituality of joy in created things rather than renunciation of them, and the Franciscan tradition that the poor themselves are the face of Christ.