The Courage to Walk in Peace: Following St. Francis Today
By friar Mario Serrano, OFM Conv.

On this Feast of St. Francis, we recall the saint who walked unarmed into the camps of enemies, not to conquer, but to encounter. Francis teaches us that peace is not passive—it is an act of courage, a witness to the truth that every human life bears dignity.

To march peacefully for Palestine today is not to deny the suffering of others, but to insist that cycles of violence are not inevitable, that justice and compassion are the only soil in which true peace can grow. As attributed to St. Francis, may we become “instruments of peace,” as we walk—with no swords or armies, but guided by the Holy Spirit.

Peaceful marching is both a form of resistance and a proclamation: resistance against oppression and indifference, and a declaration of the possibility of a world where love is stronger than fear. On this day, may our steps echo Francis’ vision of universal brotherhood and sisterhood, and may our witness hasten the freedom of all who long for peace.