Francis Lives!
The song dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, by the Knights of Saint Francis on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of his passing
The Music Video
Coming soon.......
The Origins
When Father Patrick Summerhays, vicar general and moderator of the Curia in the San Francisco Archdiocese, asked me to write a short essay about how St. Francis has influenced my life, I thought, “influenced my life?” He is my best friend forever, and has been ever since I first visited Assisi as a spoiled 15-year-old only daughter with five brothers and a Sicilian father and mother.
Since that incredible day as a kid 50 years ago, I’ve walked in the footsteps of Francesco. I have done some over-the-top crazy things like jumping over the rails at his monasteries so I could lie on slick marble that was Francesco’s bed. For hours, I would talk with him, a bit of a fanatic, a joyful one.
From the little things like visiting the trees in Bevagna where he spoke to the birds, to praying/talking to Francesco for hours in front of his tomb, my heart is filled with his special joy. A few years ago, when I was struck with pounding headaches that required surgery, I went to visit his tomb intending to argue with him angrily about my injury. To my surprise, instead, I held tight onto the wrought iron that surrounds his tomb and wept tears of joy: “Thank you, Francesco. Thank you so much for all the years of my life spent in joy because of you. As a Franciscan, you gave that to me, and I am so grateful.”
And I’ve seen him give that joyfulness to so many others. In 2008, with Cardinal William Levada, I built (it took a village), the only approved “locus santus” of the Porziuncola Nuova in San Francisco at the National Shrine of St. Francis, identical to the one Francesco built in Assisi (Santa Maria degli Angeli).
I have seen every walk of life from the poorest of the poor, to the sad and lonely, from beggars to strippers to billionaires, who come into the Porziuncola Nuova and weep and feel Francesco’s joy coming into their lives. Make friends with Francesco. He will lead you directly to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Francesco saw the face of Jesus everywhere he looked: in the trees, the flowers, the animals, the insects and every homeless person and even in the face of his enemies: Just Jesus everywhere he looked. How great is that? Then, immediately you are loving Jesus as close to how much Francesco did. It is possible, and that love is eternal joy!
Francesco can transform even suffering into gratitude to God. That’s what a friendship with St. Francis brings to your heart. As I write these words, I am in Assisi, hoping to bring relics and great works of art of Francesco to my city that is named after him, to celebrate both the 800th anniversary of his death and the 250th anniversary of the founding of Mission Dolores by his Franciscan brothers. While looking at Francesco’s robe, spattered with blood from the stigmata, I said: “This is what San Francisco needs” – not just the words, but the physical presence of St. Francis.
As I asked the Franciscans to let me bring his relics to our beloved city I told them, “I haven’t seen a homeless person since I’ve been in Italy. We have up to 3,000 people in any given year over the past several decades sleeping on the streets of San Francisco. We need to feel St. Francis here.” Because every human soul needs hope and joy, and Francesco gives us that.
If you go into the Porziuncola Nuova at the National Shrine in San Francisco, Francesco becomes your friend, as he is mine. You will feel him. Talk to him. He changes lives. He can bring all of us in San Francisco together, the rich and the poor, the believers, the doubters and the atheists.
Where there is despair, let Francesco bring you hope. Where there is sadness, let him bring you joy. It’s that Franciscan joy that San Francisco needs now.
Pax et Amor
Angela M. Alioto, Esq
Founder and International Director of the Archconfraternity of the Knights of Saint Francis
Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi (1181–1226) stands as one of the most enduring figures in Christian history, remembered not for power or scholarship, but for radical humility and joy. Born into wealth in the Italian town of Assisi, Francis lived a comfortable early life shaped by privilege and ambition. Yet a profound spiritual awakening led him to abandon material security entirely, choosing instead a life of voluntary poverty and service.
Francis believed that closeness to God required closeness to creation. He treated animals, nature, and people not as possessions or resources, but as brothers and sisters. This worldview was not symbolic to him—it was practical and lived daily. He wore simple clothing, begged for food, and rebuilt ruined chapels with his own hands, believing faith was proven through action rather than words alone.
In a time marked by social division and violence, Francis preached peace and reconciliation. He crossed battle lines to speak with Muslim leaders during the Crusades, not as a conqueror, but as a witness to humility. His approach was unusual and often misunderstood, yet it earned him deep respect even among those who did not share his beliefs.
Francis founded what would become the Franciscan Order, built on vows of poverty, obedience, and care for the marginalized. Unlike many religious movements of his era, his order emphasized simplicity, joy, and closeness to everyday people. His followers were encouraged to live among the poor rather than apart from them.
Today, Saint Francis is remembered as the patron saint of animals, ecology, and peace. His legacy endures because it challenges each generation to reconsider wealth, power, and success, and to ask whether true fulfillment is found not in accumulation, but in generosity, humility, and love.
Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli
The Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli, located on the plain below Assisi, is one of the most important Franciscan sites in Italy. Built between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the vast basilica was designed to protect the tiny Porziuncola, a humble chapel restored by Saint Francis of Assisi. Inside this simple structure, Francis founded the Franciscan Order and experienced profound spiritual visions. The contrast between the monumental basilica and the small Porziuncola symbolizes Franciscan ideals of humility, poverty, and devotion. Today, pilgrims from around the world visit to reflect on Francis’s life and message of peace and compassion worldwide.
The Town of Assisi
The town of Assisi, set on the slopes of Mount Subasio in central Italy, is a place shaped by faith, history, and quiet beauty. Known as the birthplace of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, Assisi has long been a center of pilgrimage and spiritual reflection. Its medieval streets, stone buildings, and fortified walls have remained largely unchanged for centuries. Beyond its religious significance, Assisi reflects a deep harmony between human settlement and the natural landscape. Today, the town stands as a symbol of peace, humility, and continuity, drawing visitors from around the world seeking reflection and inspiration.
The Performer
Luciano - The Monarch is an Italian American tenor, crossover artist, keynote speaker, philanthropist, and event producer. He has performed under the patronage and auspices of the United Nations, UNESCO, European Union, Presidency of the Italian Republic, and Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Venues in which he has performed include the United Nations General Assembly, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna, and Teatro Politeama in Palermo. With his more than three hundred benefit event performances as of 2022, involvement in numerous charitable causes, and commitment to making art with a purpose, Luciano Lamonarca has rightfully earned the nickname "The Goodwill Tenor."
Luciano was the recipient of the “Best Male Singer” Award at the Catholic Music Award, held at the Vatican in July 2025, for his performance of “The Song of Saint Pio” and became the first Global Ambassador of the song “Tu Scendi dalle Stelle” on the 270th anniversary of the song's first publication.