It has been 800 years since the greatest saintly figure to walk on earth, after the Saviour Himself, made his journey to his loving Master. History testifies that St Francis of Assisi remains one of the most cherished saints, even transcending the boundaries of the Church and Christendom. Beyond the lovely depictions of the saint showing him with doves or surrounded by furry quadrupeds, do we really pause to contemplate the different shades of this remarkable man who traipsed through Italy's Umbrian valley, singing, praying, and preaching more than eight centuries ago? Each facet of his personality and life was nothing short of a radical imitation of Christ—something which we blissfully ignore in our daily lives. This Franciscan jubilee year is the time to once again look at the life of this 'Second Christ' and ask ourselves "quo vadis?" (Where are we going?)

In the age of AI, smartphones, and gadgets galore that promise to make life much easier, here is a man who was very much in the world, amidst everyone. Yet, at odds with all that the world stood for. At that time and even now, when rags-to-riches stories are met with adulation, Francis remains a contradiction with his riches-to-rags tale—one of the boldest choices one can make to follow Christ in a radical manner. The man who stripped himself of everything, literally, and embraced Lady Poverty remains a powerful sign even today, forcing us to re-examine our lives as Christians. Are we, as followers of the Saviour, really caring about our unfortunate brethren? Though not in a radical manner, can't we learn from Francis to say No to extravagance—be it while buying a vehicle or a smart gadget, conducting a wedding, or buying a new house?

Even parish communities can take a page out of the real Franciscan poverty and trim extravagant expenditure during titular feasts, such as ostentatious displays of fireworks, illumination, and orchestras. Instead, a humble gesture of providing a roof over one's head, feeding the destitute, and sponsoring the wedding expenses of a girl from a poor background can be worthy exercises of Christian charity and meaningful ways to honour our saints and the Blessed Mother.

In a world fractured by conflicts, wars, bloodshed, and hate-mongering, the life and example of Francis gain significance. The saint who once took part in a war between Assisi and Perugia in 1202 later became an ardent apostle of peace after heeding the call of the Lord. His prayer, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace…" is one of the most beautiful and sublime expressions of the yearning of the soul for harmony. Looking at the man who bore the sacred wounds of Christ, we are called to be instruments of peace, to bring love, pardon, and hope to where they are most needed. If we are ready to bear witness to our faith boldly wherever we are—in our homes, at the workplace, on the street, or in social circles—truly, we can be changemakers like the leaven mentioned in the Gospel. Isn't this an effective way to rebuild the Lord's Church, as He told Francis in that small chapel of San Damiano?

Amid all the progress in science and technology, the poisonous tentacles of religious hatred and bigotry are still alive. Both believers and non-believers can emulate Francis, who fearlessly dialogued with the Egyptian Sultan at the time of the Crusades, making him one of the forerunners of inter-religious dialogue. When the scourge of climate change is being cruelly felt around the world, the clamour to protect Nature for future generations is becoming louder in all spheres. What better example do we have than the 'Poverello' who saw the grandeur of God in all creation and sang of it in the Canticle of the Sun? Like him, if we can see the handiwork of the Lord everywhere, then we can give a Gospel twist to eco-consciousness and make the planet a better place for coming generations.