The Franziskus Chapel was built in 2017 by Hans (Johann Franz) and Herta Maria Iby as a personal sign of gratitude after two serious accidents and a recovered illness—with the support of family and good friends. It is dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, nature, and the environment.
Francis of Assisi (1182–1226), originally the son of a wealthy merchant, turned to a simple, spiritual life in poverty after a profound life crisis. He founded the Franciscan Order in 1209 and was canonized in 1228. Francis is considered the creator of the nativity play (1223), the poet of the famous Canticle of the Sun, and was declared the patron of the environment by Pope John Paul II in 1979. Pope Francis I deliberately chose his name in 2013 in reference to this saint.
A special event for the community was the meeting with Pope Francis in Rome in 2015, which was also attended by numerous pilgrims from Neckenmarkt. The chapel invites one to pause, give thanks, and reflect on the protection of humans, animals, and nature.
