Celebrating Saint Francis in Rome

At noon today in Rome (6:00am EDT), in the Vatican Gardens, the Feast day of Saint Francis took place in the presence of the Holy Father.

During the prayer ceremony, at the conclusion of a special initiative entitled The Time of Creation, which was recently organized by Pope Francis, a tree which came from Assisi was planted as a symbol of an integral ecology, in order to consecrate the Synod on the Amazon to Saint Francis and to observe the 40th anniversary of the papal proclamation of the Poor One from Assisi as the Patron of ecology enthusiasts.  At the conclusion of the celebration, the Holy Father recited the Pater Noster.

Representatives from various indigenous peoples from the Amazon as well as Franciscan Friars and other Church officials all participated in today's celebrations.