Maori Catholic Runanga executive member Danny Karatea-Goddard says in addition to St Francis of Assisi, who was born in 1226, another namesake was St Francis Xavier, born in 1506.
He says St Francis Xavier was known as a person who would go out and evangelise and share the gospel with the rest of the world while St Francis of Assisi was into reformation or transformation and social justice.
Mr Karatea-Goddard says Maori parishioners are expecting great things as they wait to see how Pope Francis I will contend with the many different issues facing the church.