1) Essentially this Rule contains and presents St. Francis' <<Gospel project> as described in his Testament (nn. 14-23). This was his way of < living the Gospel>>.

2) It is written almost exclusively in the words of St. Francis. Thus the transitory nature of language is avoided; otherwise, language which would be < modem> today could be < outdated> in a few years' time. Therefore it is a < classic> text, in line with Franciscan thought and tradition; a text which could and should be < translated> and explained in modern language, that is language which is up-to-date, and should be < interpreted> for the life of every particular < today> to come.

3) It will be a source of <<ongoing formation» because it is a tool which requires of each generation a knowledge and a deep appreciation of the Franciscan texts.

4) This Rule presents the Franciscan religious life in conformity with the Church's teaching in its latest form, as expressed in the documents of the Second Vatican council.

5) This text can also be considered as a renewal of the Rule of Pius XI of 1927. In fact, it contains all the fundamental values found in that one, plus the spiritual values developed in the various initial documents spoken of in the introduction, that is, the basic text (the French text) which emphasized poverty and minority, the Madrid Statement, which emphasized penance-conversion, the Dutch text, which emphasized peace-making, and the decision at Grottaferrata to include the contemplative life.