Sculptures of St. Francis - Rome

OCTOBER 2018 PILGRIMAGE: 1

Sculpture of Saint Francis and Companions in Rome

During my pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, I was moved by a number of statues of Saint Francis of Assisi, most of which I had seen in 2013.

Across from the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome, next to the Lateran Palace where the popes used to live, is a sculpture of several images of friars. Francis, after he found himself with several followers, went to Rome in 1209 to seek the approval of the Pope for his way of life.

What would be the reaction of a medieval pope, surrounded with money and power, to this rag-tag group of men? Even if he was into reform, he was probably suspicious. But he had a dream in which the Lateran was falling down and the rag-tag leader of this group kept it from falling down. He then received Francis and approved his rule.

At the top of the work is Francis, arms raised. Are they raised to pray for the Church, which was experiencing extreme difficulties? Are they raised to rebuke the church for the failure to live the Gospel? Or are they raised to help support the church, not leaving his role to mere prayer and definitely not acerbic criticism?

Look at the images.

First of all, look from the back. From one vantage point, Francis seems to be lifting up the church.

Look at the five brothers. One is prostrate; one is kneeling in prayer, seen only from the back; two are standing.

I was particularly struck by the kneeling friar whom I had never really noticed, since I hadn’t gone behind the sculptures. He is barefoot.

  It is not by power or might that the Gospel was preached by Francis – but with poverty and simplicity, and a deeply rooted passion for Christ.