The Ways of St. Francis are a Cultural Itinerary of the Council of the EU

The Ways of St. Francis are officially a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. Ad to announce it, at the dawn of the 800/o of the death of the Saint of Assisi which will be celebrated in 2026, is the international association Saint Francis Way, actively engaged in research and enhancement of the Franciscan heritage, and present in twelve Countries, today also in the presence of the Minister of Culture Alexander Giuli. "The Franciscan walks are an exercise in citizenship shared - comments the minister - With this recognition we hope for the beginning of new paths, in the footsteps of Francis and of what it has never stopped representing: a dialogue open, between places, generations, identities". The recognition, adds Monsignor Paolo Giulietti, president of the Saint Francis Way Association, "is the result of over 10 years of work and it's a new starting point" with the young people who will be "the main subjects of our proposals, centered on peace, dialogue, protection of creation, centrality of the person in the economy and politics". With its headquarters in Assisi, the itinerary promoted by the Saint Francis Way is developed around the figure of Saint Francis, promoting its spiritual message and dialogue between cultures following three guidelines: the promotion of academic research, in fields such as botany, music, medicine, theology, through a network of Franciscan universities; the valorization of the material and immaterial heritage linked to the Franciscans; pilgrimage routes that pass through the marked places from the presence of the Saint. The route thus passes through the places lived by Saint Francis and other significant sites for the diffusion of Franciscanism, reaffirming the cultural, spiritual and ethical values ​​that are they intend to transmit to contemporary Europe.