 Having protested against the collection of money for the erection of the Basilica of San Francesco, it was Leo who broke in pieces the marble box which Elias had set up for offertories for the completion of the basilica at Assisi.For this Elias had him scourged, and this outrage on St Francis's dearest disciple consolidated the opposition to Elias.Leo was the leader in the early stages of the struggle in the order for the maintenance of St Francis's ideas on strict poverty.