St. Francis

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Ive been learning alot about St. Francis recently and in a lecture i listened to, the professor stated in passing that St. Francis’s theology/spirituality is more eastern then western but did not elaborate. Has anyone else heard this? Is this true? If so, in what ways?
 
**My understanding is that Francis was fully obedient to the Bishop of Rome and to the Catholic Church.
Before entering his monastic life he did not even have a Bible, but based his actions on the lessons he learned at Mass.
When he heard the advice of our Lord to “Go and sell all that you have, give the money to the poor, then come and follow Me,” that is what Francis did.
That action became the basis of his order. Money was looked upon as evil and was not to be found at Franciscan houses. **
 
But seriously, St Francis (of Asissi, I presume) swathe glory of God in His creation, and this *resembles *the respect one finds among certain Eastern religions, particularly Bhuddism. But this does not imply any sort of relationship except a linkage of truths.
 
By eastern I meant eastern catholic not other eastern religions such as Buddhism. I believe the professor was referring to theosis in particular.
 
Sicily was Byzantine until a century or so before Francis was born. Many Byzantine Catholics escaped North, I suppose, after Sicily was conquered by the Saracens. I wonder if the Orthodoc settled in the area around Rome, probably seeking refuge in the Papal States, and in Assisi. Why do I say this? Because the Damiano Crucifix is remarkably Byzantine. But I’m just conjecturing, hoping that other may confirm or explain against my speculation.
 
I would suspect that the residual influence of the Exarchate of Ravenna might also have had a bearing on artistic and architectual styles.
 
malphono said:
I would suspect that the residual influence of the Exarchate of Ravenna might also have had a bearing on artistic and architectual styles.
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Indeed. Now, as for this proximate Byzantine presence having influenced the theology or the spirituality of the people in the regions around Rome even centuries after it ceased, is perhaps not the case. As a matter of fact, what I know about the spirituality of St. Francis, that which one can glean from his writings, not from popular culture, is that it’s Latin through and through.
 
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