A public lecture entitled “Little Brother Francis – Brother to All, a Giant of Humanity and Faith” by Monsignor Francesco Braschi took place on 23 October at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Francesco Braschi is Deputy Prefect and Doctor of the Ambrosiana Library in Milan as well as Director of the Departments of Slavic Studies, African Studies and Oriental Studies.

The Vice-President of BAS Prof. Emmanuel Moutafov opened the event and delivered a welcome address in which he noted that the Academy had launched a series of academic sermons, the first of which was delivered on the symbolic date of 24 May 2025 by His Holiness Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria himself. It was dedicated to the co-patrons of Europe, Saints Cyril and Methodius, said Prof. Moutafov. The visit of our guest lecturer today represents a natural and valuable extension of this initiative which combines spirituality, knowledge and enlightenment, he noted, emphasising in his remarks that Monsignor Brashci was one of Italy’s most authoritative theologians, Patristic scholars and researchers of Christian traditions. For us in Bulgaria, his presence is extremely valuable – as a Slavicist, Monsignor Francesco Braschi maintains a living spiritual and academic connection with the Bulgarian academic community through joint research and colloquia in the field of Old Bulgarian studies, explained the Vice-President of BAS.

Drawing on the most ancient sources and contemporary accounts, Monsignor Braschi presented aspects of the saint’s life and his personal experiences. In his lecture, he spoke of the many dimensions of a personal story which, even today, continues to inspire and take us on a journey through culture, art and spiritual imagination.

St. Francis of Assisi is the Italian saint whose image has been most frequently interpreted and portrayed in various ways: as an emblematic figure of Italian identity and a universal advocate of peace; as a lover of nature and a forerunner of environmentalism; as a critic of all forms of civil and ecclesiastical formalism; and as a faithful follower of the Catholic Church. This diversity of representations reveals the richness and uniqueness of a personality whose legacy remains undeniably alive and relevant.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Bulgaria, H.E. Msgr. Luciano Suriani, the Italian Ambassador, H.E. Marcello Apicella, and representatives of the academic community and cultural institutions attended the lecture at BAS.

The event was organised by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Italian Embassy in Bulgaria and the Italian Cultural Institute in Sofia. It forms part of a rich programme of international initiatives dedicated to the historical figure of St. Francis of Assisi to mark the 800th anniversary of his death.

The Central Library of BAS has published a booklet entitled “Seven Centuries of Franciscan Presence in the Bulgarian Lands” to mark the 800th anniversary of the blessed passing of Francis of Assisi. The texts were written by Prof. Krassimir Stantchev.

The multimedia exhibition “St. Francis: The Story of a Face” is on display at BAS until 30 November.