While St. Francis of Assisi was declared a saint nearly 800 years ago, it was not until nearly 50 years ago that he became known as the patron of ecology. “John Paul II makes that proclamation in 1979,” explained Joshua C. Benson, associate professor of historical and systematic theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington. “There’s greater ecological awareness on the part of people – and in looking for a patron for that, Francis became an obvious choice.” As we celebrate Earth Day on April 22, here is a look at why the beloved 13th-century Italian friar became associated with creation care and how we can keep that tradition alive.