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Why did St. Francis of Assisi stress both personal and communal poverty?

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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 emphasized both personal and communal poverty as a fundamental means to imitate the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. For Francis, this commitment was not merely about external deprivation but represented a total denial of self, reflecting his desire to walk in the footsteps of the Apostles.1

His dedication to poverty was rooted in his interpretation of the Gospel According to Matthew, where Christ instructs his followers to take no gold, silver, or extra possessions on their journey. By renouncing worldly goods and family ties, Francis sought to live in absolute obedience and simplicity.21

In his final writing, the Testament, he explicitly declared that both personal and corporate poverty were essential lifestyles for members of the Franciscan order. This lifestyle served as the cornerstone of his spiritual mission, allowing him and his followers to focus entirely on preaching repentance and serving others without the distractions of material ownership.12