St Francis and the Sultan Goa India

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Visit of St. Francis to Sultan Malik al-Kamil, 17th century, Fresco on wood. Goa, India – Church of St. Francis of Assisi 

(Wikimedia Commons by Vikas Singh)

This 17th-century fresco in the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Goa, depicts one of the most remarkable episodes of the Poverello’s life: his journey to meet Sultan Malik al-Kamil during the Fifth Crusade. According to Franciscan tradition, the saint traveled to the Sultan’s court in Egypt, not as a warrior but as a humble messenger of peace, preaching dialogue, reconciliation, and Christian charity.

The fresco captures this extraordinary encounter with vivid detail: St. Francis is shown in a posture of respect and humility, while the Sultan listens attentively, illustrating the saint’s role as a bridge between faiths. The work reflects the continued dissemination of Franciscan iconography beyond Europe, into Asia, during the Portuguese colonial period, and demonstrates the enduring appeal of Francis’ message of peace and compassion across cultures.

The composition emphasizes the contrast between the simplicity of the Franciscan habit and the richness of the Sultan’s court, reinforcing the spiritual over the worldly. The fresco remains a testament to the global reach of Franciscan devotion in the early modern period and provides a rare visual record of a historical encounter that has inspired countless Franciscan narratives.

(Wikimedia Commons by Vikas Singh)