Ugolini, nephew to the Pope, and subsequently Pope by the name of
Gregory IX.

Francis, who was anxious to get his affairs expeditiously brought to
a termination, got himself introduced to the Pope by an officer of his
acquaintance. The Pope, who was walking at that moment in a place
called the Mirror, and being deeply engaged respecting some difficult
affairs of the Church, would not so much as listen to him, but repulsed
him rudely as a stranger of no very respectable appearance. The servant
of God humbly withdrew; and it is recorded that he then restored to
sight a blind man who had had his eyes torn out. The Holy Father saw
in his sleep a palm-tree grow slowly at his feet and become a fine
large tree. Pleased with what he saw, but not understanding its meaning,
he learnt by a Divine inspiration that the palm-tree represented the
poor man whom he had ungraciously repulsed the day before. As soon as
it was day, he gave directions that the poor man should be sought for.
He was found in the hospital of St. Anthony, and came to the feet of
the Pope, and laid before him the rule of life he followed, with
energetic though humble solicitations for His Holiness's approval
thereof.

Innocent III, a Pontiff of great wisdom, acknowledged the candor and
the admirable courage and zeal of the servant of God. He received him
into his favor as one truly poor in Jesus Christ, and he was inclined
to comply with his request; however, he postponed doing so, because
his mode of life appeared novel to some of the cardinals, and so much,
beyond what human strength could endure; the evil times, and the
coldness of charity, making them think it very difficult and almost
impossible for an order to subsist without possessing any effects
whatever.