Franciscans

Franciscans are members of a family of Catholic religious orders tracing their origin to Saint Francis of Assisi (c. 1182–1226). Francis founded a movement around 1209 that sought to live in evangelical poverty and to preach the Gospel among the poor, gaining papal approval for the Rule of the Friars Minor from Pope Innocent III.

The Franciscan family comprises three principal branches: the Order of Friars Minor (the Franciscans) for men; the Poor Clares (the Order of Saint Clare) for women; and the Third Order for lay people and religious who live according to Franciscan spirituality without solemn vows in a religious community. Within the male branch, reform movements later emerged, notably the Capuchins and the Conventuals, which today are commonly grouped with the original order as the Franciscan family.

Core charism centers on poverty, humility, and simple living, coupled with itinerant preaching and service to the poor. Franciscans emphasize obedience to the Gospel, communal life, and a reverence for creation that stems from Francis’s own spirituality.

Historically, Franciscans played a major role as mendicant preachers and scholars in medieval Europe and later extended their work worldwide through missionary activity. They established missions, schools, hospitals, and parishes across the Americas, Asia, Africa, and beyond, often engaging deeply with local communities. Notable Franciscan saints include Francis of Assisi, Clare of Assisi, and Anthony of Padua.

The term Franciscan is used for members of the various branches and for lay communities that follow Franciscan spirituality, including the secular Third Order.