Francis was born in the early 1180s, on an unknown date, as one of several children to rich merchant Pietro Bernardone and his wife Pica. As per his mother's wish, he was initially baptized Giovanni after John the Baptist. However, because his father wanted his son to share his love of France and be a successful businessman like him, he changed his son's name to Francesco, which is the same as calling him a Frenchman.

In his early years, Francis wasn't particularly religious or academically inclined. Due to his father's money, he was able to participate in the elite social scene. He was well known for his colorful attire and his ready ability to break into song. In his youth, he sought to accomplish great military accomplishments and participated in a conflict with a rival Italian city-state.

His thinking shifted towards more serious topics throughout that struggle as a result of being imprisoned for a time and having a reoccurring dream that implied his true "army" did not exist in this world. Due to sickness, he had to return to Assisi in 1205, when he started to think about choosing a life of voluntary poverty

Francis' conversion did not take place immediately. He began to pray more frequently and sometimes walked to a cave and sobbed for his wrongdoings. He was occasionally overjoyed by God's grace. Francis, the man who adored beauty, was extremely fussy about food, and detested deformity, came face to face with a leper one day while riding through the countryside. Francis was repulsed by the leper's appearance and smell, but he still got off his horse and kissed the leper's hand. Francis was delighted to receive the peace kiss in return. He glanced around for one more wave as he rode off and noticed that the leper had vanished. He saw it as a test from God that he had successfully passed.

He arrived at the historic church in San Damiano on his journey of conversion. While praying, he heard Christ on the crucifix say to him, "Francis, repair my church." Francis guessed that it was referring to the crumbling church he was in. Once more acting hastily, he stole fabric from his father's store and sold it to raise money for church repairs. Because of Francis' cowardice, money waste, and developing indifference in money, as well as his father's perception that this was stealing Francis came across to his father as more of a lunatic than his son. Pietro hauled Francis before the bishop and demanded that Francis return the money and renounce all claims to being his heir in front of the entire community.

Francis was treated kindly by the bishop, who advised him to return the money and assured him that God would provide. Francis only needed to hear that. Along with returning the money, he also took off all of his clothes, including the ones his father had given him, until all that was left was a hair shirt. He declared in front of the assembled people, "Pietro Bernardone is no longer my father. Now I may say, 'Our Father who art in heaven,' completely guilt-free." He set off singing into the chilly woods wearing nothing but discarded rags. In his eyes, he was the husband of "Lady Poverty," and he committed to serve Christ as "a herald of the Great King.

He experienced the impulse that would spark the Franciscan movement in the year 1208. He heard the Gospel reading at Mass one morning where Christ told the apostles to depart without money, shoes, or extra clothing. Within Francis' lifetime, this manner of life attracted a sizable number of followers and quickly became a papally sanctioned rule.

Francis never intended to start a new religious order. He perceived his actions as demonstrating God's brotherhood. His group included people from different backgrounds. Francis demonstrated true equality by treating everyone with honor, respect, and love, regardless of their status. All of God's creation was included in Francis' brotherhood. Francis' love of nature has been the subject of much writing, but his bond went deeper than that. Francis had a strong sense of fraternity with nature and all of God's creations. As much as the pope, the sparrow was his brother.

In one well-known narrative, Francis gave a sermon to hundreds of birds, encouraging them to give thanks to God for their lovely attire, their freedom, and his protection. According to the legend, the birds didn't move as he strolled among them; they only took flight after he gave them permission to do so.

Another well-known story tells of a wolf that has been devouring humans. When the wolf was about to be killed by the town, Francis stepped in and convinced the wolf not to murder ever again. The wolf became a pet of the townspeople, who made sure he always had plenty to eat.

Francis was severely ill and partially blind in the final years of his brief life. This is when he wrote the Canticle of the Sun, in which he praises God while expressing his fraternity with creation.

Francis participated in the sufferings of the Lord by imitating him. In September 1224, he was miraculously given the stigmata—Christ's wounds—in his own flesh.

On his deathbed, Francis repeated the final line of his Canticle of the Sun, "Be praised, O Lord, for our Sister Death." When he finished singing Psalm 141, he asked his superior for permission to have his clothing taken off so that, in imitation of his Lord, he could pass away laying naked on the ground.

On October 4, 1226, St. Francis of Assisi passed away at the age of 45. His devotee and friend Pope Gregory IX canonized him in 1228. He is revered as the patron saint of Italy, merchants, animals, and ecology, and his feast day is 4th October.

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