Want to follow Francis? It can be so dangerous (BJRE099)

Want to follow Francis? It can be so dangerous.

(By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2026)

This year is the Jubilee of Francis—yet another opportunity to return to the roots of the inspirations of the Jesus Youth movement.

Pete came to me one day to discuss and seek some direction. Even before he began speaking, I sensed it would be about Saint Francis; he had been reading him recently. He said to me, “I’m so shaken. In a way, I have discovered what I really want. Saint Francis challenges me so deeply. I want to give up everything and live life radically. It is so joyful and fulfilling. I know the danger, but my heart is moving in that direction.”

I knew that terrible feeling—the one you get when you truly encounter Francis. At first, I did not know how to bring him down to earth or help him face reality. The real Francis shakes you up, as he did Dante, Chesterton, Kazantzakis, Clare, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, and many others. He died in 1226, yet for the past 800 years he has continued to shake people—and still does.

With Francis, a pious approach is acceptable, no problem. You can have a picture or statue of the saint and offer flowers. You can believe in his powerful intercession and pray a novena. Even a procession with his statue is fine. But once you begin to see the real Francis, he becomes deeply unsettling. While he was alive, many parents and even wise people in the Church were frightened by the dangerous influence of this crazy man on young people. He drove people to an unbelievable kind of madness.

It is worth asking what made Francis so dangerous to so many.

1. He lived a dangerously irresponsible life with regard to money, time, and material security.

2. He did not obey his parents or conventional authority; he followed his raw inspirations rather than mature or cautious guidance.

3. He had no proper education, no real mentor, and virtually no formal spiritual formation.

4. He was unfit for family life and could not fit into a monastery, a parish, or any existing structure. He refused to conform to the customs and systems around him.

5. He gathered a community, but he made them just as crazy as he was—doing what felt beautiful and joyful, clothed, of course, in spiritual language.

6. He never planned for the future or built anything with future generations in mind.

7. He focused excessively on living a radically creative life of joy, love, and beauty in their purest form, with little regard for common sense or social norms.

The result was that in his dress, lifestyle, eating habits, and even his forms of prayer, Francis appeared shabby, disruptive, and disorganized. More shocking still was the discovery that one could actually live this way—and live on. Many left everything and followed him. His father, Bernardone, saw the danger, tried to discipline and reason with him, and finally threw him out of the house. Others ridiculed him; some urged him to be more reasonable. No one could convince or guide him. Later, even his own followers realized they could not live the life Francis wanted. Though they claimed to follow him, they largely rejected his most radical ways. None of this dissuaded Francis. Almost casually, he lived and died a life radically different from the rest—and remained a rude shock to all.

I did not explain all this to Pete. When someone falls in love, resistance only deepens the blindness. Instead, we spoke at length. For better or worse, I have seen many people deeply inspired by Francis. Some even take concrete steps to change their lives but later settle into mere piety—praying to him, admiring him, or eventually forgetting the initial radical shock. Most simply continue life as before.

I told Pete: you cannot imitate Francis. His life is his life; your life is your life. But you can allow Francis to inspire you to live radically where you are, with the challenges you face, and with the time, money, and talents you have. Do not imitate Francis—be radically inspired by him and live your life.

Yet the question remains: what is the real challenge Francis poses, and why is he so dangerously attractive and inspiring?

Francis is the patron saint of the Jesus Youth movement. Many take this for granted; others find it strange and ask what it truly implies. Francis remains elusive, difficult to grasp. It is easy to misunderstand him, and hard to know him deeply enough to integrate even some of his true elements into one’s life. My prayer is that this Year of Francis will challenge at least a few to know him deeply and allow their lives to be transformed.

So, where do Francis and Jesus Youth intersect?

• His romanticism—his focus on love, joy, and beauty

• A Christ-centered life rooted in encounter, ongoing conversion, and no turning back

• Christ as the foundation and reference point

• Fidelity to the Word of God

• Youthful spontaneity and unpredictability in the Spirit

• The joy of community and exuberant spiritual celebration

• Love for the Church and a joyful response to its authority

• Readiness for a relevant and spontaneous mission

• A commitment to simplicity, humility, and ordinariness

Pope Leo—following the inspiration of his predecessor, Francis—has given us an entire year to contemplate, step by step, this man who lived in imitation of another, even more radically dangerous man, Jesus. It is no surprise that many later called Francis the Second Christ.

Knowing someone intimately is the first step toward friendship and discipleship. What follows is the slow work of translating that knowledge into one’s own life—its challenges, possibilities, and concrete realities. This requires personal reflection, honest struggle, and meaningful conversation with God and others. Mere knowledge can be deceptive and even dangerous. What bears fruit is the willingness to take steps, wrestle, work things out, and allow real change.

Pete did not leave his job. He remains a Jesus Youth. Recently, he married Lilian. I wait to see how he will allow himself to be transformed through his encounter with Francis.