Original: While reluctant to undertake such a major project, he was persuaded in 1975 to accept the commission and began work on his Saint-Fran Ã ois d'Assise.
Simplified: At first he did not want to start such a large work, but in 1975 he was persuaded to accept the commission and began work on his Saint-Fran Ã ois d'Assise.