“A chance to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis”: Eight centuries after the Italian saint visited Egypt, his tunic has been resurrected.
By Joseph Tulloch
When St. Francis made his famous journey to Egypt in 1219, he wore the simple tunic that would later become the hallmark of his followers.
And now, 800 years later, that tunic, or part of it, has returned to the country.
Part of the garment, believed to be a second-class relic of the saint, arrived in Cairo on the 23rd.rd May. After that, he will head to Alexandria, where he will visit Minya, Asyut, Qena and Luxor, before returning to Italy on the 2nd.and June.
Coptic Orthodox liturgy celebrating the arrival of the relics
Follow in the footsteps of St. Francis
The relic belongs to Franciscan monks in Tuscany, Italy, who are transporting it to various countries to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the stigmata of St. Francis.
Anthony Amun, head of Franciscan youth in Egypt, told Vatican News that the event aimed to “recover the spirituality of St. Francis.”
He added that he hoped the encounter with the relics would inspire the Egyptian Church to “follow in the footsteps of St. Francis.”
Reliquary containing a fragment of St. Francis’ tunic
Saints and Sultans
St. Francis’ visit to Egypt is best remembered for his meeting with Sultan al-Kamel, the ruler of Egypt at the time.
During the Crusades, the saint went behind enemy lines to meet a Muslim leader and stayed with him for several days.
Ament said visiting the relics “is a constant reminder to take the initiative to continue the dialogue between us and others.”
He said relations between Christians and Muslims in Egypt have made “great progress” over the past decade under the leadership of President Al-Sisi.
And he, 800Number Anniversary of the meeting between Francis and the Sultan.
He said the dialogue was between the Catholic Church and leaders and youth representatives of Cairo’s Al-Azhar University, one of the world’s most prestigious centers of Islamic learning.
“From that moment on, interreligious dialogue between Egyptian Muslims and Christians entered a new phase,” Amen said.
