HERITAGE

Founders and Sponsors

The Franciscan Movement Today

Followers of Francis and Clare can be found today in every walk of life and on every continent — still joyful, still seeking a simple lifestyle, still seeking to love and follow the God who lives in their own depths and in all of creation. Theirs is a common vision: identification with the poor; care for creation as a sacred trust; embrace of each person in relationship as sister or brother; and commitment to building peace with justice for all. Today’s followers of Francis and Clare can be recognized by their lived faith in a God of love, by their caring and generous deeds, by their reverence for all creation, and by their daring to live Gospel lives whose values run counter to the culture of their times.

Today there are approximately 650,000 Franciscans in 110 countries. Nearly 35,000 Franciscan friars belong to the First Order of Friars Minor, the First Order of Capuchin Franciscans, the First Order of Conventual Franciscans and the Third Order Regular. Followers of St. Clare (Poor Clares) number about 60,000 cloistered religious women. There are close to 155,000 Third Order Regular religious sisters and brothers. In addition, 400,000 single and married women and men follow the way of St. Francis as Secular Franciscans.