New Francis of Assisi Bio Reveals 'Reluctant Saint'

By Liane Hansen

Published December 22, 2002 at 12:00 AM EST

The much-examined life of Christian spiritual giant Francis of Assisi is explored anew in a biography by theologian Donald Spoto. Reluctant Saint draws on a wealth of new material, including an ecumencial meeting in 1219 in Egypt between Francis and the leader of Muslim forces in the Fifth Crusade. Spoto speaks with NPR's Liane Hansen.

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Liane Hansen

Liane Hansen has been the host of NPR's award-winning Weekend Edition Sunday for 20 years. She brings to her position an extensive background in broadcast journalism, including work as a radio producer, reporter, and on-air host at both the local and national level. The program has covered such breaking news stories as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the capture of Saddam Hussein, the deaths of Princess Diana and John F. Kennedy, Jr., and the Columbia shuttle tragedy. In 2004, Liane was granted an exclusive interview with former weapons inspector David Kay prior to his report on the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The show also won the James Beard award for best radio program on food for a report on SPAM.