Like a grain of wheat fallen to the ground, the body of Francis of Assisi has become a fertile seed capable of sprouting and bearing fruit through time. His existence, given entirely to love, reconciliation, and fraternity, continues to speak to the heart of humanity even eight hundred years after his death. Today, his legacy manifests as a living presence of God’s Kingdom in our midst: every gesture of openness, every choice for peace, every embrace of brotherhood bears the mark of that seed which did not remain alone, but gave birth to a new story.
The relics of Francis, kept in the basilica dedicated to him in Assisi, are a tangible sign of this mystery. Pilgrims from every part of the world gather before his tomb, finding inspiration, courage, and hope in the example of a life radically given. In that place, earth and heaven seem to touch; Francis’s message becomes a concrete invitation to welcome the Gospel into daily life, to build bridges of dialogue, to care for creation, to live relationships marked by peace and love.
To discover Francis today means allowing ourselves to be drawn into a story that continues to flourish, silent and fruitful. His legacy accompanies and encourages us to make visible, through our choices and actions, the Kingdom of God that grows quietly but powerfully in our midst. Thus, like a seed that sprouts in the earth, Francis’s presence is light and promise for anyone who desires to walk in fraternity and hope.
