Church of St. Francis of Assisi

About

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi (Polish: Kościół św. Franciszka z Asyżu) and Friary of the Conventual Friars Minor located in the Old Town district of Kraków, Poland, are a Roman Catholic religious complex on the west side of All Saints Square at Franciszkańska 2, across the street from the Bishop's Palace in Krakow – which served as the residence of Pope John Paul II during his stays in the city. The Church dates back to the 13th century. The saint Maximilian Kolbe was a friar there in 1919, and led his first service at this church upon Poland's return to sovereignty.

History: There is no consensus among historians about the church's founder. He was probably Duke Henry II the Pious (1196–1241), son of Prince Henry the Bearded (1165–1238) who resided in Kraków and also previously invited the Franciscans to Wrocław. His wife, Anna (daughter of the Bohemian King Premysl Otakar I), and especially her sister Agnes (Agnieszka) contributed as well. However, widely regarded as the founder is also Duke Bolesław V the Chaste with his wife St. Kinga, especially in the construction and reconstruction of the church and monastery after the devastation of the first Mongol invasion of Poland...