The Founding of Franciscans International at the United Nations
Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa
In 1982, Sister Elizabeth Cameron of the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa, and Brother Dionysius Mintoff, OFM, began the work to develop a Franciscan presence at the United Nations. Their suggestion to the Franciscan Federation of North America was well received and a Preparatory Committee with Sister Elizabeth as the chair began work. On February 3, 1989, the United Nations Department of Public Information announced that they had conferred Non-Governmental Organization status on the world Franciscan Family.
With this announcement, Sister Elizabeth stated in the 1989 congregational newsletter of the Sisters of St. Francis: “Franciscans have always worked quietly, in their own regions, parishes, and neighborhoods to bring about peace and reconciliation as Francis taught. Indeed, the ideals of Francis are so akin to those of the United Nations that St. Francis is its patron.”
“Affiliation with the UN will encourage Franciscans worldwide to work more closely to achieve local goals with global implications.”
At the time when this work was done, Sister Elizabeth and others worked with Robert Muller, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. While she stated that Franciscans worked quietly, she inspired him so much that he became an Associate of the Clinton Franciscans and remained one until his death in 2010.
Franciscans International opened its first office in New York in 1990. Sister Elizabeth died in 1994, knowing that Franciscans International was just beginning to achieve the universal goals she had envisioned.
