Francesco e la comunicazione teatrale

The essay analyses the relationship between Francis of Assisi and theatrical communication, highlighting how the actions of the Saint, often interpreted as ‘theatrical’, were actually authentic expressions of devotion and Christ-like imitation. Furthermore, it challenges the ‘vulgate’ definition of Francis as “God’s jester”, a title he did not attribute to himself, preferring the more noble designation of “herald of God”: a role that reflected his mission to spread the divine message with dignity and authority. To communicate with the faithful, the Saint used gestures and symbolic languages, leveraging his knowledge of the social and communicative dynamics of medieval cities. However, his actions, even those seemingly more performative and examined here, were not conceived as theatrical, but as sincere manifestations of his faith. Indeed, Francis expressed an empathetic and symbolic form of communication that moved the feelings of the faithful, without ever losing his authenticity and spiritual radicalism. Finally, the text explores the connection between Franciscan experience and the Sacri Monti: devotional architectural complexes that recreated the holy places of Jerusalem. These spaces offered pilgrims an immersive and sensorial experience, akin to the mystical symbiosis experienced by Francis, and represented a pinnacle of religious communication, closer to spirituality than to theatricality