Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Italy, founder of the Order of Friars Minor, and coordinator of the first live nativity scene.

Lived around 1200AD, Francis rebuked possessions and money and began traveling town to town professing the good news of Jesus Christ. His ministry grew in numbers as others joined and became the Order of Friars. They wore no shoes and used a walking stick as Jesus commanded.

In 1219 he went to Egypt to minister to Sultan in hopes of ending the crusades. This led to allowing the Franciscan order permission to stay and be administers of the Holy Lands.

In 1223 he created the first nativity scene. At that time, Christmas was a mass where the priest would describe the nativity in a language almost no one understood, latin. The mass that night would not be able to hold all the worshippers, so Francis created the first live action nativity for all to come and experience the birth of our lord using all senses.

Francis is revered as he is the first recorded saint to receive the stigmata, supernatural wounds that mimic the wounds of Christ's crucifixion. The encounter occurred on a mountain with Francis fasting and praying and witnessed by Saint Bonaventure. A visit of a seraphim, the highest order of angels second only to God. The seraphim was witnessed to have six fiery and shiny wings and never touched the ground. The body appeared similar to a crucifixion, with two wings holding up the head, two for flight, and two shrouding the body. After the encounter, Francis was blessed with the stigmata.

Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment.