Franciscus

Franciscus is the Latin form of the given name Francis. It is commonly encountered in classical, medieval, and ecclesiastical Latin, where it serves as an identifier for persons named Francis. The etymology traces to Francus, meaning “a Frank” or “from France,” and by extension the Latin name Franciscus was used to denote someone of Frankish origin or, later, simply to render the name Francis in Latin texts.

Notable uses include Saint Francis of Assisi, who is known in Latin as Franciscus Assisiensis; Francis Xavier is rendered Franciscus Xaverius; and Francis de Sales as Franciscus Salesius. The name has been borne by many clerics, scholars, and artists across Europe, often in Latin-authored works. In the Catholic Church, Franciscus is the Latin form used for the reigning pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, pope since 2013). As a papal name, Franciscus appears in official Latin documents and liturgical references.

Today, Franciscus is primarily encountered in historical, religious, or scholarly contexts. In modern usage, the English form Francis is far more common, while Franciscus remains a conventional Latin form in biographical or hagiographic texts.