Indeed, had Francis been accused of heresy, he would have been prosecuted. A better term might be "reformer."
Excommunication is a finding that someone is not eligible for communion.
Now, being a "reformer" runs you the risk of falling afoul of the authorities, and a finding of heresy could result from that.
Re:St Francis of Assisi
by NoZebra120vClip on Sunday July 30, 2023 @06:04PM
(#36936470)
St. John of the Cross put up with this sort of thing.
That doesn't seem the right characterization.
Francis of Assisi went to get authorization from the Pope early and defined himself and his movement as being part of "mother church".
Martin Luther was excommunicated while alive, as was Cauvin, or recently archbishop Milingo.
Canonization is kinda independent from being declared heretic.