For Francis of Assisi, Jesus Christ is the model of minority. He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave. He became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8; Test. 19). Francis and Clare of Assisi personify minority for our multicultural and multiethnic contemporary world.

"You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them" (John 13:13-17).

From the many stories that reveal the characteristics of Francis' life and personality, we learn how he gradually developed a passion to live like Jesus. Early in his conversion process he encountered a leper who repulsed him. After all, Francis had lived a life of luxury rather than minority before his conversion. However, when he realized that he was turning away from God by turning from the leper, he hurried back to embrace him with a kiss. This image of Francis and the leper personifies minority in his life like Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet defines minority in His life. For Christ and Francis humility is an integral quality of minority. This is not a humility that causes discomfort to others, but a humility born out of compassion for others.

In the VII PCO, the renewed sense of brotherhood and the new problems in our society invite us to reconsider minority particularly from the communal-institutional-structural point of view to be in continuity with VI PCO (Prop. 4).