In Assisi there are many physical representations of the care for God’s creation through the use of the story of Saint Francis. The city possesses many murals and sculptures respecting the Creator by the stewardship of creation. While there are objects viewed as respectful by the Church, there may also be some objects viewed as disrespectful in the eyes of the Church. A crucial tool prior to visiting Assisi is gaining knowledge about Saint Francis and his upbringing and how he became the well-known Saint that he has been and still is today. With current generations, one of the best ways to enhance interaction with the Catholic Church is to use pop culture as an influence. In some of the local souvenir shops there were a few pop cultural objects that incorporate Saint Francis, including a small soccer figurine and salt and pepper shakers.
The figurine of Saint Francis dressed in soccer gear stood out as a product that may be viewed negatively by the church. As Italy is known for its deep roots in the Roman Catholic Church, it is also known for its love of soccer. The purpose of this item is to make Saint Francis seem relatable to people in the current generations by taking in part in something they love. Church leaders or teachers may have issues with the object being displayed or sold as it is not used as a tool of worship but for public consumption. The object of Saint Francis may not be viewed as respectful by the Creator by the stewardship of creation.
In another shop in Assisi, there was a pair of salt and pepper shakers in the shape of Saint Francis. These specific objects are geared towards families for personal consumption, similar to the soccer player figurine. Having a pair of salt and pepper shakers in the home may allow the family to view Saint Francis as a familiar person. Although to church leaders and teachers, this may not be the case. The only instance I can understand the leaders being offended by such objects is if they were constantly being used throughout the home, possibly as a collectible item. This act of ownership may become problematic to leaders that believe Saint Francis should be used as a tool for worship instead of as collectible items.