Why the spirituality of St Francis is still relevant today

Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special Franciscan Jubilee to encourage spiritual renewal by imitating the love of St. Francis for God, other people, and all creation. As part of this Jubilee, the Pope is offering the faithful a plenary indulgence.

The Franciscan tradition emphasizes the concept of sine proprio, a Latin phrase meaning living without anything of one's own. According to a report from Catholic Outlook, this does not necessarily mean living without material goods, but rather living without being possessive, dominating, or appropriating things for oneself. This approach to poverty encourages people to act as stewards and caretakers of the gifts they have been entrusted with.

The Franciscan way of life seeks to strengthen relationships with everyone and everything in the world. This perspective offers an alternative to modern focuses on personal achievement and private enterprise, which the report suggests can lead to a lack of social responsibility and contribute to inequality and exploitation.