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What is the story of St. Francis of Assisi and the wolf of Gubbio?

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Bonaventura Berlinghieri: St. Francis and Scenes from His Life — St. Francis of Assisi *St. Francis and Scenes from His Life*, tempera on panel by Bonaventura Berlinghieri, 1235; in the Church of San Francesco, Pescia, Italy.

The story of St. Francis of Assisi and the wolf of Gubbio is one of the most well-known accounts illustrating his deep reverence for all of nature, which he viewed as a mirror of God.1

According to the tradition, a fierce wolf was terrorizing the town of Gubbio, attacking both the townspeople and their livestock. St. Francis, who famously referred to all creatures as his "brothers" and "sisters," intervened to resolve the conflict. He approached the wolf and successfully persuaded the animal to cease its attacks. The agreement was mutual: the wolf promised to stop harming the inhabitants, and in return, the people of Gubbio agreed to provide the wolf with the food it needed to survive.1

This narrative highlights Francis’s unique spiritual perspective, where he sought to live in harmony with creation, reflecting his broader commitment to peace and his role as the patron saint of animals and ecology.21