Islamabad – Franciscan fraternities in Pakistan are marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi , ahead of the liturgical feast of St Francis on October 4, renewing their commitment to live and proclaim the Gospel, according to the spirit of the saint, in the Pakistani nation.
On the occasion of the Transitus of St. Francis, in the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, the local Catholic community gathered around the Franciscan family – friars, religious women and lay faithful – to commemorate the life, spirituality and legacy of St. Francis of Assisi in Pakistan.
The Franciscans serving in the diocese organized a jubilee celebration highlighting the theme of peace, including a symbolic release of white doves, representing reconciliation and the evangelical spirit embodied by St. Francis. A theatrical performance depicting the saint’s life and mission invited participants to reflect on his love for Christ and for the poor, as well as on his simple and humble lifestyle.
During the Eucharistic celebration held in Islamabad on September 29 as the central event of the jubilee program, Archbishop Arshad, commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of the saint of Assisi, emphasized that “his life continues to inspire Christians through his radical commitment to the Gospel, simplicity, humility and love for God and creation.” “His extraordinary witness of faith, embracing poverty, simplicity, humility and total dedication to God, and his authentic and radical following of the Gospel, is a model and a source of inspiration for the baptized in Pakistan and throughout the world,” he said.
His legacy, the Archbishop stressed, is that “those who make themselves the least are those who receive the most in the eyes of God.” He encouraged the faithful to be disciples of Christ, who calls his followers to humility, service and selfless love.
“This message,” he observed, “is particularly meaningful for those of us called to serve others, in the Church and in society, so that the needs of the most vulnerable take priority over our own well-being and interests.”
For consecrated men and women in Pakistan in particular, he said, “the life of St. Francis remains a powerful reminder that the religious vocation is a call to follow Christ faithfully and that consecrated persons are to be authentic witnesses to the Gospel in the world.”
“The spirituality of St. Francis,” he continued, “also calls all believers to detach themselves from excessive concern for earthly possessions and to live in love of God, the poor, creation and their neighbour. His witness reminds Christians that the Gospel is not only to be proclaimed in words, but witnessed through one’s life.”
The gathering concluded with a time of sharing, fellowship and fraternal communion in the Franciscan spirit.
The Franciscan family in Pakistan numbers approximately 600 people in total, including religious friars, sisters belonging to various Franciscan congregations, and lay members of the Secular Franciscan Order. Their presence is concentrated mainly in two major geographical and ecclesiastical regions of the country: the Friars Minor have historically been concentrated primarily in Sindh Province and the Archdiocese of Karachi, while the Capuchin Friars work mainly in Punjab Province, a territory entrusted to their pastoral care as early as the late nineteenth century.
Several women’s religious congregations are active in the country and work closely with the local population . The Secular Franciscans and Franciscan Youth also represent a significant part of the Franciscan presence, with numerous local fraternities spread across the provinces of Punjab and Sindh.
The apostolate of the Franciscan family in Pakistan is carried out in three principal areas: peace and interreligious dialogue, through which Franciscans dedicate ongoing relations with the Muslim community in order to promote peaceful coexistence; service to the poor, given that a large proportion of Pakistani faithful belong to socially disadvantaged or marginalized communities; and social apostolate, through the management of numerous schools, clinics and hospitals accessible to the entire population, without ethnic or religious discrimination.
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