THE SAINT AND THE SULTAN The Crusades, Islam, and Francis of Assisi’s Mission of Peace by PAUL MOSES

Description

For many of us, St. Francis of Assisi is known as an impoverished friar and a lover of animals. Such images are sadly incomplete because they ignore an important and challenging aspect of his life–his unwavering commitment to seeking peace. In this book, Paul Moses recovers Francis’s message of peace through the largely forgotten story of his daring mission to end the Crusades. In 1219, as the Fifth Crusade was being fought, Francis crossed enemy lines to gain an audience with Malik al-Kamil, the sultan of Egypt. This book captures the lives of Francis and al-Kamil and illuminates the political intrigue and religious fervor in their time. Hardcover.