Pope Francis and Saint Francis, Patron Saint of Nativities and Santons

Posted on November 07, 2015 | 0 Comments

The visit of Pope Francis to the United States this year was to so many of us inspirational - inspirational and a breath of fresh air.

He is named, of course, after Saint Francis of Assisi. With his traditional humility, he says he was nudged by a Papal friend "not to forget the poor." Yet, his own deep-seated persona so thoroughly embraced the name - Saint Francis of Assisi was a man of poverty, a man of peace, a man who loves and protects the natural world.

Marcel Carbonel's Saint Francis has always been a popular Santon. He is the patron saint of nativities and of santonniers. He spiked in popularity with Pope Francis' election in 2013, and now is even more beloved as a commemoration of Pope Francis' US visit.