John of Capistrano

About John of Capistrano

John of Capistrano was a Franciscan friar, preacher, and diplomat who rallied Christian Europe against Ottoman invasion. A successful lawyer and governor of Perugia, John was imprisoned during political conflicts. In prison, he had a vision of Saint Francis leading to his conversion. After release, he joined the Franciscans (1416) and became a powerful preacher and reformer. John worked to reform the Franciscan Order alongside Bernardine of Siena, promoting the Observant reform. He preached throughout Europe, drawing massive crowds (sometimes 100,000+), working miracles, and leading to conversions, though his preaching was also controversial for anti-Jewish and anti-Hussite rhetoric. At age 70, John was sent by Pope Callixtus III to rally defense against the Ottoman invasion threatening Europe. He accompanied John Hunyadi to the siege of Belgrade (1456), where his preaching and the banner with Jesus' name inspired the Christian victory that halted Ottoman advance into Central Europe. John died shortly after from plague contracted during the campaign. Canonized 1690, he represents the preacher-diplomat defending Christendom.