(Reuters) – Listed below are some statistics about Pope Francis, 87, who’s within the midst of a 33,000-km (20,500-mile) tour of 4 Southeast Asian nations.
WHEN WAS POPE FRANCIS ELECTED?
The previous Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope on March 13, 2013. He’s the 266th pontiff and the primary from Latin America, in addition to the primary to take the identify Francis.
HOW LONG HAS FRANCIS BEEN POPE?
At greater than 11 years, Francis’ reign already exceeds the 7-1/2-year common. He’s additionally the oldest incumbent since Leo XIII, who was 93 at his loss of life in 1903. Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, died at 95, however was 85 when he retired as pope.
HOW MANY FOREIGN TRIPS HAS FRANCIS UNDERTAKEN?
The journey to Southeast Asia might be Francis’ forty fifth exterior Italy. By its finish, he may have visited greater than 64 states and territories, for a tally of greater than 460,000 km (285,000 miles). His first abroad journey as pope, in 2013, was to Brazil. In September, after getting back from Asia, he is because of go to Belgium and Luxembourg.
HOW IS THE POPE’S HEALTH?
In early 2024, Francis had checks in hospital after weeks of what was variously described as a chilly, bronchitis and influenza, however he has gave the impression to be in higher well being because the finish of March.
He had operations in 2021 and 2023 to take away a piece of his colon due to painful diverticulitis and to restore an belly hernia. However he mentioned final yr the diverticulitis had returned.
Francis has additionally had mobility issues for a number of years, and usually walks with a cane when he isn’t utilizing a wheelchair. He has lengthy suffered from sciatica, a power nerve situation that causes again, hip and leg ache, and has extra not too long ago had knee issues.
HOW MANY SAINTS HAS FANCIS NAMED?
Francis has named greater than 900 new saints, together with his predecessors John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II, in addition to Mom Teresa of Calcutta and Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was killed in 1980.
ENCYCLICALS
An encyclical is an important type of papal doc. Francis has authored three:
– “Lumen Fidei” (Gentle of Religion) on the significance of Christian religion, based mostly partly on the work of his predecessor Pope Benedict, in 2013.
– “Laudato Si” (Praised Be), which referred to as for pressing motion on local weather change, in 2015.
– “Fratelli Tutti” (Brothers All), in 2020, tackled solidarity amongst folks within the post-pandemic world.
