Franciscan Order
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The Franciscan Order - its official title is the Order of Friars Minor (Ordo Fratrum Minorum) - is a religious order within the Roman Catholic church. It is a mendicant order, founded in Italy in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi (?1181-1226), and its members are sometimes known as Grey Friars from the colour of their habits. There are Franciscan nuns as well as Franciscan friars.
A Capuchin friar is a member of a very strict autonomous branch of the Franciscan Order. The Capuchins are so called because of their distinctive large hood or cowl - cappuccio is the Italian word for 'hood'.
