Francis was born at Paola, Italy and was educated at the Franciscan friary of San Marco there, and when fifteen became a hermit near Paola. In 1436, he and two companions who also wished to live as anchorites began a community that is considered the foundation of the Minim Friars. The Order was approved by Pope Sixtus IV in 1474 with the name Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi (changed to Minim Friars in 1492). He built a monastery where he had led his eremitical life some fifteen years later and set a Rule for his followers emphasizing penance, charity, and humility, and added to the three monastic vows, one offasting and abstinence from meat; he also wrote a rule for tertiaries and nuns. He was credited with many miracles and had the gifts of prophesy and insight into men's hearts. His success in converting hardened sinners was match with his avert a plague, by miraculous cures of physical diseases and the raising of several dead people to life. Francis established foundations in southern Italy and Sicily, and his fame was such that at the request of dying King Louis XI of France, Pope Sixtus II ordered him to France, as the King felt he could be cured by Francis. He was not, but was so comforted that Louis' son Charles VIII, became Francis' friend and endowed several monasteries for the Minims. During his stay at France he restored peace between France and Brittany, advising the royal family and preventing war between France and Spain over territories.
Then, knowing that his end was near, he spent the last three months of his life in complete solitude. Finally, on Palm Sunday in 1507, Francis took gravely ill; on Holy Thursday he gathered his friars around him and encouraged them lovingly in their way of life, and died on Good Friday, aged 91(April 2nd).
He was canonized by Pope Leo X on 1st May 1519 and, on account of his numerous sea-related miracles, was declared patron of the sea-farers by Pope Pius XII on 27th March 1943. His body was found to be still incorrupt when the Huguenots dragged it from its tomb in 1562 and in their ignorant malice burned it.