Saint Francis of Assisi (c. 1181–1226) was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher who founded the Franciscan Order. Born into a wealthy family, he renounced his possessions to live a life of poverty and service. He is known for his love of nature, animals, and simplicity, seeing all creatures as brothers and sisters. Francis received the stigmata—the wounds of Christ—making him the first recorded person to bear them. His humility, compassion, and devotion to Christ inspired many. Canonized in 1228, he remains one of the most beloved saints and is the patron saint of animals and the environment.