Italian events honor Saint Francis with lecture and theater performance

On June 18, a public lecture titled “Luigi e Francesco: la scelta diventa missione” was held at the Convento di Santa Maria in Castiglione delle Stiviere. Giacomo Cecchin moderated a discussion comparing Saint Luigi Gonzaga, canonised three centuries ago, with Saint Francis of Assisi, highlighting their shared commitment to the Gospel and to the poor.

A week earlier, on June 13, the Teatro delle Muse in Ancona staged the play “Francesco,” performed by Aldo Cazzullo and Angelo Branduardi. The production, part of the San Francesco 2023‑2026 program, recalled the historic meeting between Saint Francis and the Sultan al‑Kamil and underscored the saint’s relevance to contemporary peace‑building. Proceeds supported the Opere Caritative Francescane’s work with HIV/AIDS patients and community health initiatives.