World Church · October 7, 2026
Church Reflects on St. Francis's Legacy 800 Years After His Death
The Church is grappling with organizational issues and scandals, but a German Franciscan warns that it may be losing sight of its core mission: living in faith and maintaining a relationship with Jesus. Brother Markus Fuhrmann, the leader of German Franciscans, argues that St. Francis of Assisi, who died 800 years ago, continues to pose challenging questions to the Church today. According to Brother Markus, the Church needs spiritual renewal, greater openness to diversity, and the courage to explore new paths. St. Francis did not criticize the Church with words; instead, he showed an alternative way of living. His approach combined a return to the roots of Christianity with a willingness to seek new solutions. Brother Markus notes that St. Francis lived in a state of tension, inspired by the Holy Spirit. St. Francis abandoned a life of wealth and comfort. A pivotal moment in his journey was his encounter with a leper, which helped him see God and humanity in a new light. As Brother Markus explains, St. Francis discovered a God who draws near to people and stands with them as an equal. This perspective led him to a radical turn towards the Gospel. However, it was not just about personal piety; St. Francis wanted to live differently from his surroundings, choosing poverty and refusing to tie himself to any one place. Brother Markus observes that this combination of a strong foundation and universal openness is timeless and provocative. According to Brother Markus, the modern Church faces a similar challenge. It must return to its essence, Christ and the Gospel, while also seeking new ways of acting. However, much of its energy is consumed by organizational, personnel, and competency issues. While Brother Markus does not dismiss the importance of these matters, he cautions that they can overshadow the ultimate goal they are meant to serve.
He believes that St. Francis would ask today whether the Church truly lives in faith and whether Christ remains at the center of its activities. St. Francis did not launch campaigns against the Church's structures. Instead of limiting himself to criticism, he began living in a way that demonstrated an alternative. Brother Markus believes that this is the essence of St. Francis's relevance today, personal conversion. It is also a challenge for the Franciscans themselves. Their tradition does not exempt them from questioning whether their daily religious life aligns with the ideals they profess. St. Francis is primarily associated today with his love for nature and concern for creation. While Brother Markus does not dismiss this association, he warns against reducing Franciscan spirituality to ecology. He emphasizes that its starting point is Christ. Concern for creation stems from the belief that everything comes from God, and creatures are interconnected. Therefore, the Franciscan perspective sees nature not just as humanity's environment but as a shared world to which humans are connected. However, this does not mean equating God with nature. Brother Markus notes that St. Francis did not reduce God to everything that exists; God remained distinct and transcendent for him. According to Brother Markus, what might give St. Francis hope today is the awareness that people belong to one global community. Although wars and ecological crises show that this awareness does not always translate into action, the very idea of seeing humanity as one family is close to the Franciscan way of viewing the world. Brother Markus's journey to the Franciscans did not begin with an interest in St. Francis. After completing his civilian service, he started theological studies and wondered if religious life was for him.
Initially, he was drawn to the Jesuits. As he recounts, Ignatian spirituality, which encourages seeking and finding God in all things, appealed to him. However, he eventually concluded that the Jesuits were not his community. Later, a friend from his studies introduced him to the Franciscans. There, he encountered an atmosphere that resonated more with his sensibilities. This experience, he admits, helped him gradually embrace Franciscan spirituality. It did not mean breaking ties with his earlier inspirations; Brother Markus emphasizes that he still maintains good relations with the Jesuits. Over the years, Brother Markus's view of St. Francis has evolved. Today, he sees him as a man who had to grapple with the limitations of his own ideals. St. Francis strove to live according to his vocation, but the community he founded could not always function as he envisioned. Compromises arose, and the movement gradually took on institutional forms. St. Francis eventually stepped down from leading the order. However, Brother Markus asserts that this did not mean abandoning his original calling. St. Francis remained faithful to what he considered most important, even if not everything unfolded as he had imagined. This experience is also relevant to today's Church, which is not without conflicts and polarization. Brother Markus argues that one must remain faithful to the good without falling into fundamentalism and maintain openness to others. It is not about abandoning convictions but ensuring that fidelity does not become the belief that only one's own way of thinking and acting is acceptable. Brother Markus is someone people can turn to for help.