Francesco e Il Lupo di Gubbio.

(A true story)

It was winter in the year 1220.  In the little Italian town of Gubbio, the snow was falling and everywhere was frozen. 

The animals living in the surrounding woods and countryside were starving.  They could find no food in the freezing conditions, so they approached the little town in the hope of receiving pieces of food from the people.  During that winter, all the deer, foxes, birds, rabbits - in fact, all of the wild animals survived through the food given by the kind people of Gubbio.

Then one night, a fierce and hungry wolf arrived in the town, searching for food.  He killed some of the animals and even some of the people. 
Every night, during that winter, the wolf visited the town.  The people of Gubbio now lived in fear.  Children were not allowed to play outside.  Brave men searched the woods, hoping to find and kill the terrifying wolf.

The winter ended and springtime began but the wolf continued to terrify the town.  Every night, he arrived searching for food.

One day, Francesco, a young man from the nearby town of Assisi, visited Gubbio.  He was known to love animals and to be able to speak their language.  He saw how frightened the folk were and so, accompanied by a large group of people,  he decided to visit the bad wolf.

The wolf jumped out from behind the trees, growling and showing his sharp teeth.  He tried to frighten Francesco and his companions but it did not work.  Francesco stood calmly in front of the wolf and said,

" Brother Wolf, stop behaving so badly! "

The wolf stood still, listening to Francesco's words.  The young man continued to speak:

" The people of Gubbio wish to live in peace.  If they promise to feed you every day then you will not feel hungry and you will not have to kill to survive. Why don't you become their friend?"

The wolf listened carefully.  He lifted his right paw for Francesco to hold.  At that moment, everyone could see that the wolf had changed and had become their friend.

Every day, for the next two years, the wolf entered the town of Gubbio, but the people were no longer afraid.  They left plates of food outside so that the wolf could eat plenty.  Children could stroke him and play with him.  He was no longer a dangerous beast.  He had become a friend and everyone was happy.

When the wolf died, two years after the meeting with Francesco, the people of Gubbio were heart-broken.  Everyone wept with sadness. They had lost a great friend, their Brother Wolf.