Francis always had at heart the salvation of souls and what Jesus had done to give eternal life to all.
In the Sources we find what he says to his brothers:
"The Only-Begotten of God, Infinite Wisdom, for the salvation of souls came down from the bosom of the Father, renewed the world by his example, speaking to men the Word of salvation, and gave his blood as a price to redeem them, a washing to purify them, a drink to fortify them, absolutely nothing reserving for himself, but everything generously dispensing for our salvation" (FF 1204).
And Francis was used by the Lord to bring the dead back to life several times:
"In the village of Monte Marano, near Benevento, a woman particularly devoted to St Francis had died.
In the evening the clerics came for the funeral [...] when suddenly, in the sight of everyone, the woman got up on her bed and called one of the priests present [...] and said to him:
'Father, I want to confess: listen to my sin. When I died, I was to be thrown into a horrible prison because I had not confessed the sin I am about to tell you. But St Francis prayed for me, whom during my life I always served with devotion, and so I was granted to return now to the body, to confess that sin and merit eternal life. After I have confessed it I will hasten to the promised peace'.
Trembling, he confessed to the priest [...] and, having received absolution, he lay down in peace on his bed and fell asleep happily in the Lord' (FF 1263).
In the Fioretti, then, it is told of a friar, Giovanni della Verna, who celebrating Mass on the Day of the Dead saw many liberated souls ascend to heaven:
"In that Mass, divinely raising the body of Christ and offering it to God the Father and begging him that for love of his blessed Son Jesus Christ, who was hanging on the cross to buy back souls, it would please him to free [...] the souls of the dead created and bought back by him; immediately he saw almost infinite souls [...] ascending into heaven through the merits of Christ's passion, which is offered every day for the living and the dead in that most sacred host" (FF 1892).
"Now this is the will of Him who sent me: that whatever He has given me, I should not lose of it, but raise it up at the last day" (Jn 6:39).
Comm. of all the Faithful Departed (Jn 6:37-40)