11/09/2026
On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi, Consolato Generale d'Italia - Melbourne , the Italian Cultural Institute, Monash University and COASIT Melbourne present "The Francis Effect: Overcoming Barriers between Species and Classes", a lecture by Michele Campopiano, Professor of Medieval History at the University of Catania. A lecture that brings his legacy into today's conversations on ecology and social justice.
Drawing on the work of Lynn White and Giacomo Todeschini, the lecture explores how Francis's care for all creatures and for those pushed to the margins of society — the poor, the sick, the excluded — formed part of a single vision that challenged the hierarchies of his time, one that still speaks to today's debates on ecology and inequality.
The lecture will be accompanied by readings performed by Roxana Păun Trifan, actress and theatre researcher.
When: Thursday 1 October 2026, 6.30–8pm
Where: CO.AS.IT., 199 Faraday St, Carlton
Free event, registration essential: https://www.coasit.com.au/san-francesco-2026
We look forward to seeing you there.
Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale Embassy of Italy in Australia Comites Melbourne - Victoria e Tasmania SBS Italian IL GLOBO