Pope Francis has a model for Muslim engagement in St. Francis of Assisi
Detail of St. Francis of Assisi from ``Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St. Francis and four Angels,'' a fresco executed by Giovanni Cimabue between 1278-80 for the lower church of St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, Italy. RNS file photo courtesy of the Custodian of St. Francis Basilica in Assisi.
Just as many Catholics have connected Pope Francis' humility and austere lifestyle with that of St. Francis of Assisi, those seeking clues on the new pontiff's approach to Christian-Muslim relations see another example in his iconic namesake.