The Franciscans are a group of related mendicant religious orders of the Catholic Church. Founded in 1209 by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi, these orders include three independent orders for men, orders for nuns such as the Order of Saint Clare, and the Third Order of Saint Francis open to male and female members. They adhere to the teachings and spiritual disciplines of the founder and of his main associates and followers, such as Clare of Assisi, Anthony of Padua, and Elizabeth of Hungary. Several smaller Protestant Franciscan orders or other groups have been established since late 1800's as well, particularly in the Anglican and Lutheran traditions.
Luke Wadding, O.F.M., was an Irish Franciscan friar and historian.
The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal is a Catholic clerical religious congregation of Pontifical Right for men founded in 1987. It follows the Capuchin Franciscan tradition.
Solanus Casey, OFM Cap, born Bernard Francis Casey, was an American religious priest of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. He was known during his lifetime as a healer for his great faith and his abilities as a spiritual counselor, but especially for his great attention to the sick, for whom he celebrated special Masses. The friar was much sought-after and revered, especially in Detroit, where he resided. He was also a noted lover of the violin, a trait he shared with his eponym, Saint Francis Solanus.
Nicholas Pieck, O.F.M., "Nicolaas" or "Claes Pieck" in Dutch, was a Franciscan friar who was one of a group of Catholic clergy and lay brothers, the Martyrs of Gorkum, who were executed for refusal to renounce their faith in 1572.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Mendi is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mount Hagen, in Mendi, Papua New Guinea. It was erected Prefecture Apostolic in 1958 and elevated Vicariate Apostolic in 1965. It was elevated, along with other Oceanic vicariates and prefectures, to a diocese on 15 November 1966. The bishop is Donald Lippert, OFMCap.
Gregory Mary Grassi, O.F.M., was an Italian Franciscan friar and bishop who is honored as a Catholic martyr and saint.
Gabriele Allegra was a Franciscan friar and Biblical scholar. He is best known for accomplishing the first complete translation of the Bible into the Chinese language. His Studium Biblicum Translation is often considered the definitive Chinese Bible among Catholics. He has been beatfied in 2012.
John Dalton, O.S.F., was an Irish-born Friar Minor who served as the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, from 1856 to 1869.
Francisco García Diego y Moreno was the first bishop of the Diocese of the Californias.
The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate is a religious institute founded in 1970 by Conventual Franciscans Stefano Maria Manelli and Gabriel Maria Pellettieri and canonically erected by Pope John Paul II in 1998. Their rule of life is the Regula Bullata of Saint Francis of Assisi according to the Traccia Mariana.
Benedict Joseph Groeschel, C.F.R. was an American Franciscan friar, Catholic priest, retreat master, author, psychologist, activist, and television host. He hosted the television talk program Sunday Night Prime on the Eternal Word Television Network, as well as several serial religious specials.
Basil Myron Schott was the Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh from 2002 until his death.
Pamfilo of Magliano, O.S.F., was an Italian Franciscan friar, who went to the United States in 1855 to help establish the Order there. He was responsible for the establishment of major institutions of the Order in the Northeastern United States. He founded two religious institutes of Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis.
Michael Anthony Perry, O.F.M., is an American Franciscan friar who served as the minister general of the Order of Friars Minor from 2013 to 2021.
Nicolai Gennadyevich Dubinin, O.F.M. Conv. is a Russian Roman Catholic prelate as the Titular Bishop of Aquae in Byzacena and Auxiliary bishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mother of God at Moscow since 30 July 2020.
Frederick Bachstein and his thirteen companions were a collective group of members, both priests and lay brothers, of the Order of Friars Minor, who were murdered by a group of Protestants in the early 17th century.
Leonardo Ulrich Steiner is a Brazilian prelate of the Catholic Church who has served as Archbishop of Manaus since 2020. A member of the Franciscans since 1976 and a bishop since 2005, he was an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Brasília from 2011 to 2019.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church & Immaculata Catholic School are a Catholic parish church and parochial school run by the Order of Friars Minor in downtown Durham, North Carolina. The church and school are located in the Burch Avenue Historic District. Immaculate Conception is the oldest Catholic congregation in Durham, and the affiliated school was the city's first Catholic school.
MartinMaria de Porres Ward, O.F.M. Conv. was an African-American Catholic priest and Franciscan friar who served as a missionary in Brazil for more than forty years. He was the first African American to join the Conventual Friars Minor.
