Born 1181/1182, Assisi, Italy
Died October 3, 1226, Assisi, Italy

..."Saint Francis, nature, and the environment
A garden statue of Francis of Assisi with birds
A garden statue of Francis of Assisi with birds

Many of the stories that surround the life of St Francis deal with his love for animals.[21]

Perhaps the most famous incident that illustrates the Saint’s humility towards nature is recounted in the 'Fioretti' (The "Little Flowers"), a collection of legends and folk-lore that sprang up after the Saint’s death.