Pope Leo XIV has addressed a letter to the General Ministers of the Franciscan Family Conference on the occasion of the opening of the VIII Centenary of the Death of Saint Francis of Assisi, which will be commemorated throughout 2026.
In the text, dated January 7, 2026 and later published by the Holy See, the Pontiff recalls the words with which the Poor Man of Assisi welcomed death —«our sister death»— and emphasizes that eight centuries have passed since the passing of a saint who left a decisive mark on the spiritual life of the Church.
Peace as a gift from God, not as a human construction
The Pope highlights that the central message of Saint Francis is that of peace as a gift that comes from God, not as an exclusive result of human effort. Recalling the Franciscan greeting —«The Lord give you peace»—, Leo XIV states that this expression condenses the saint’s evangelical experience and refers directly to the greeting of the Risen Christ to the disciples: «Peace be with you».
In this sense, the Pontiff warns against the illusion of thinking that peace can be built solely with human means, and recalls that it is a gift that must be actively welcomed and lived every day. Christian peace —he points out— is not a courtesy formula, but the announcement of Christ’s victory over death.
A message relevant in a world marked by war
Leo XIV places the figure of Saint Francis in the current context, marked by prolonged wars, social divisions, and inner unrest, and affirms that the saint continues to speak to the contemporary world not because he offers technical solutions, but because his life points to the authentic source of peace.
The Pope underscores that the Franciscan vision of peace is not limited to human relations, but extends to all creation. Recalling that Saint Francis called the sun «brother» and the moon «sister», Leo XIV highlights that reconciliation with God, with others, and with creation are inseparable dimensions of a single Christian vocation.
Call to a life faithful to the Gospel
In the final part of the letter, the Pontiff exhorts the members of the Franciscan Family —and, with them, all the faithful— to allow themselves to be challenged by the example of Saint Francis, described as firm in faith, solid in hope, and ardent in charity.
The Pope encourages living an existence faithful to the Gospel, entrusted to the Lord and sustained by prayer, capable of illuminating every circumstance of life, even the most painful ones.
A prayer for peace in the Franciscan jubilee year
Leo XIV concludes his letter by offering a prayer to Saint Francis of Assisi, in which he asks for the grace of perfect joy, concord, and the courage to become “operators of peace” in a world wounded by conflicts and divisions. In it, the Pope invokes the saint’s intercession so that Christians may be unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ.
The Pontiff accompanies the letter with his Apostolic Blessing, addressed especially to those who follow the Franciscan charism and to all who will commemorate the dies natalis of the saint throughout the commemorative year.