Francesco – A saint for our time: An interview with Liliana Cavani

In this interview, which was conducted during early summer 2023, Liliana Cavani reflects on the life of St. Francis of Assisi and its underlying social message, as well as on the character and role of Clare of Assisi, Francis’ most illustrious disciple, from a follower who tells Francis’ story to a protagonist of equal stature. The so-called ‘Francesco trilogy’ represents Francis not only as an otherworldly saint but as a revolutionary figure whose gospel of brotherhood, solidarity and peace speaks directly to our time. Francesco renounces his privileged social standing to pursue a true spiritual adventure in order to share the elemental life of those who do not possess anything. For Liliana Cavani, Francesco is an eternal symbol; he is not a man of the past but our contemporary.¹