Saint Francis of Assisi

To mark the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi (October 3, 1226), Pope Leo has proclaimed a Special Year of Saint Francis from January 10, 2026 to January 10, 2027, “inviting all the faithful to live as pilgrims of hope, inspired by the life of Saint Francis—his humility, poverty, mercy, and love for Christ and peace.” Who was St. Francis of Assisi, why is he so well-loved by people of all faiths and none, and what does he have to say to our times? This seminar will present the life story of St. Francis, the order he founded, his cultural and historical relevance, and his spirituality. Special emphasis will be given to the town of Assisi where Francis spent his entire life and which has been preserved to this day in its wonderful medieval beauty and simplicity.

Peter J. Colosi, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy at Salve Regina University. He previously served as associate professor of moral theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Pennsylvania and taught for Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. Peter holds a doctorate in philosophy from the International Academy of Philosophy in the Principality of Liechtenstein and a master’s degree in Franciscan studies from St. Bonaventure University. He is a speaker and author on the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, focusing on the underlying philosophical reasons behind those teachings.