He reserved his definitive approbation, therefore, while lavishing upon the brothers the most affectionate tokens of interest.

He authorized them to continue their missions everywhere, after having gained the consent of their ordinaries.

He required, however, that they should give themselves a responsible superior to whom the ecclesiastical authorities could always address themselves.

Naturally, Francis was chosen.[23] This fact, so humble in appearance, definitively constituted the Franciscan family.
The mystics whom we saw going from village to village transported with love and liberty accepted the yoke almost without thinking about it.
This yoke will preserve them from the disintegration of the heretics, but it will make itself sharply felt by those pure souls; they will one day look back to the early days of the Order as the only time when their life was truly conformed to the gospel.
When Francis heard the words of the supreme pontiff he prostrated himself at his feet, promising the most perfect obedience with all his heart.

The pope blessed them, saying: "Go, my brethren, and may God be with you.