A dialogue on St. Francis between two historians, Alessandro Barbero and Antonio Musarra, introduced by Carlotta Sorba, thanks to the collaboration with Palazzo Ducale Fondazione per la Cultura on the occasion of “Storia in Piazza” (History in the Square)
Francis of Assisi is one of the most famous figures in European history, but also one of the most misunderstood. Saint, poet, rebel, environmentalist, man of peace, radical critic of power: contradictory images have accumulated around him, often diminishing his historical significance. We are not dealing with a nature lover, as is often repeated, but rather with someone capable of recognizing in creation the sign of the Creator, to whom he raises his praise.
The dialogue between Alessandro Barbero and Antonio Musarra will address the figure of Francis as he emerges from his writings, from hagiographic tradition, and from what contemporary sensibilities continue to feel for him. What emerges is the figure of a man who, with the disarming power of words and actions, challenged the social, religious, and political models of his time, leaving behind a legacy that is increasingly relevant today.