giovanni parenti, o.f.m. (died 1250) was an italian friar minor and successor of st. francis of assisi as head of the order. parenti had a legal background. he served as minister provincial in spain before being chosen minister general in 1227. parenti held a literal interpretation of poverty as it applied to the order; a view that was not shared by everyone. he stepped down in 1232 and was succeeded by elias of cortona.