Each year on October 4th, the church remembers the life of Saint Francis of Assisi who dedicated his life to the ministry of the Gospel, specifically with the poor and oppressed. At a young age, St. Francis set out to rebuild the church on the basis of the Gospel of love, he embodied the Gospel message and advocated for the marginalized. Currently, St. Francis’ legacy continues to rebuild the church through Pope Francis (who chose his papal name after St. Francis of Assisi). Pope Francis has grown in popularity and influence in American adults within the last year (check our Barna’s most recent statistics on Pope Francis here, worth the read). Pope Francis’ actions and words of love and humble demeanor has rattled the religious landscape for the better.