Ever since monks and conservationists were known to be nearly finished restoring medieval manuscripts from the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Assisi, some of the mightiest museums in the world have clamored to display them.

After all, they are the oldest documents that tell the story of St. Francis. Born Francesco di Bernardone, a soldier and son of a merchant, he renounced wealth and war, then founded orders of friars and sisters organized on principles of simplicity. His embrace of the poor inspired the current pope to take the name Francis.

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Source: http://www.nytimes.com