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Why did St. Francis of Assisi show special respect for the Eucharist and priests?

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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.

St. Francis of Assisi’s profound veneration for the Eucharist and his deep respect for the priests who administered the sacrament were rooted in his singular commitment to imitating the life of Jesus Christ and carrying out Christ’s work in his own way.1

Because Francis sought to follow the teachings of the Lord and walk in his footsteps as literally as possible, he viewed the Eucharist—the body and blood of Christ—with the utmost reverence. His respect for priests stemmed from their role in handling these sacred elements, which were central to the Christian faith. To overlook this aspect of his devotion would be to present an incomplete portrait of the saint, as his spiritual life was defined by more than just his love of nature, his work with the poor, or his life as an itinerant preacher.12