On September 7, Franciscans rejoice, especially with countless young people, as Pope Leo XIV canonizes Blessed Carlo Acutis (1991-2006), as the Church’s first millennial saint.

What does it really mean to live a penitential life today? For members of the Secular Franciscan Order—or anyone drawn to Franciscan spirituality—this question echoes through centuries of tradition, personal devotion, and communal renewal. St. Francis and the Third Order: The Franciscan and Pre-Franciscan Penitential Movement offers a rich historical and theological exploration of this path, grounding the contemporary Third Order in its earliest roots.

Interested in deepening your knowledge of the Franciscan Intellectual-Spiritual Tradition? Check out these summer offerings (2025) from the Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure University.

To mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, the Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS) at Durham University will hold its third international Franciscan Studies conference, Life and Love Transfigured: Exploring New Horizons in the Franciscan Tradition, from April 14 to April 16, 2026.

On April 4, the Franciscan family honors the memory of Saint Benedict of Palermo, sometimes called Benedict the African or the Black (1526-1589). In Italian he is referred to as “il Moro” (dark-skinned), and this was often translated into English as “the Moor.”

Inspired by a recent letter by Pope Francis, the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe have launched a series of monthly reflections on the transforming power of the Gospel message in our current challenging situation.

Now available, our website tutorials help you make the most of the Digital Collections from the Commission on the Franciscan Intellectual-Spiritual Tradition and the American Academy of Franciscan History.

In St. Peter's Square on October 20, 2024 — World Mission Day — Pope Francis canonized the Martyrs of Damascus. These new saints of the Catholic Church include eight Franciscan friars and three lay Maronites.

The International Society of Franciscan Studies, a partnership between the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University and the Franciscan Study Center at Tilburg University, Netherlands, has recently been launched.