“A marvel. Something truly beautiful.” These were some of the comments describing the premiere performance of Francis: The Eyes of His Heart Enlightened. This musical oratorio was written by composer Piotr PAŁKA to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. It was performed on Thursday evening, October 1, 2026, at the basilica of the Conventual Franciscans in Cracow, Poland.
The work immersed the audience in an atmosphere of silence, harmony, and a profound personal experience of the mystery of Francis’ holiness. “This evening, we experienced shared prayer brought to life by this music and these words,” presenter Bogdan ZALEWSKI said immediately afterward.
“In writing the words for this oratorio,” said the author of the libretto, Friar Andrzej ZAJĄC, “I did not so much want to tell the story of Francis as to try to reveal Francis himself: his personal discoveries and his sensibility transformed by grace. There are two events during Francis’ journey that are particularly special: his encounter with the lepers and his prayer before the crucifix at San Damiano, when he felt God’s loving gaze upon him. These experiences produced ‘the eyes of his heart enlightened’ (Eph. 1:18), which gives the work its title. The reality around him had not changed; what had changed, however, was the way he had begun to view it. This new way of seeing allowed Francis to view himself and others differently. He discovered the deepest beauty of humanity and of all creation and, above all, the beauty of God, which fascinated and captivated him. He could no longer keep what he had received to himself. Therefore, he set out on a journey toward others, bringing them peace, goodness, and hope, with a single goal before him: to joyfully reach the Father. Francis: The Eyes of His Heart Enlightened is the story of a transformed gaze: of a grace that does not always change the reality around us, but can lead us to begin seeing it in a different way.”
According to the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow), Friar Mariusz KOZIOŁ, St. Francis remains alive today in culture, in the Church, and in the hearts of thousands of men and women. The Minister Provincial expressed his hope that this poor and humble brother would open our eyes to the value of others, the beauty of creation, and, above all, the beauty of the Creator himself.
The Marshal of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Łukasz SMÓŁKA, addressed those attending the concert by means of a commemorative letter. In it, he wrote that “Lesser Poland is a region where history, culture, and spiritual heritage have for centuries created a unique space for people to encounter what is most important. For this reason, as the regional administration, we have joined in the celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi by supporting an exceptional musical event: the world premiere of the oratorio, Francis: The Eyes of His Heart Enlightened.”
Through Grzegorz SOBAL, director of the Department of Culture and National Heritage of the Office of the Marshal of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the Minister Provincial awarded the Franciscus (1226–2026) jubilee medal to Łukasz SMÓŁKA, Marshal of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, and to the members of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship Administration.
The award expressed the gratitude of the Province of Cracow for all the kindness it has received from the Voivodeship, for the commitment the Voivodeship showed in organizing the event with the Province as its main partner, and for the support the Voivodeship has shown for the culture and spiritual heritage of Lesser Poland.
Friar Jan Maria SZEWEK
