How old is Pope Francis
As of 17 February 2025, Pope Francis is 88 years old. He was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His old age has made him one of the oldest popes in the history of the Catholic Church, following Pope Leo XIII, who lived until 93 years. Pope Francis’s age has questioned his staying power and health, in light of the physically demanding nature of the papacy.
Duration of Pope Francis’s papacy
Pope Francis was elected pope 266 on 13 March 2013. This means that as of 17 February 2025, he has served for nearly 12 years. He has, throughout his papacy, been marked by concern for social issues, stewardship of the natural world, and reform of the Catholic Church hierarchy. He is the first Jesuit and the first American pope.
Since his election, Pope Francis has undertaken numerous initiatives aimed at modernizing the Church and addressing contemporary issues. His encyclical Laudato Si’, released in 2015, emphasized environmental stewardship and climate change awareness. Additionally, he has made significant strides in promoting interfaith dialogue and addressing clergy sexual abuse within the Church.
The longest-serving pope in history
Discussing papal longevity, it should be noted that the longest reigning pope ever is Saint Peter, who is generally dated to have reigned for around 34 to 37 years during the early days of Christianity. But considering the modern eras, the longest reign among one of the modern popes was Pope Pius IX, who ruled from 1846 until his death in 1878 for 31 years, 7 months, and 23 days.
Follows Pius IX some other prominent popes:
- Saint John Paul II: Ruled for 26 years and 5 months between 1978 and his death in 2005.
- Leo XIII: Ruled for 25 years and 5 months between 1878 and 1903.
- Pius VI: Was in his reign for over 24 years between 1775 and 1799.
Pope Francis’s recent record places him as one of the longest-reigning popes in contemporary times but short of these all-time records.
The issue of age in papacy
Pope Francis’s generation also presents him with problems and concerns during his leadership. During the time when he was stepping into his late eighties, there was heightened rumor of retirement and succession. In a previous interview, he had confessed that he does not agree that there has to be an obligatory age limit for the pope to retire but that his seniority could potentially be an issue as far as performing the responsibilities of a pope effectively is concerned.
The added burden of years has been a contentious issue among church members. To take an example, Pope Benedict XVI resigned at age 85 because of health issues—a historical first because it was a first time a Pope had resigned voluntarily in almost six centuries. It provides the precedent for what Pope Francis may do when he suffers from the same afflictions as he ages.
Future considerations for Pope Francis
In the next few years, there are a number of issues that can affect Pope Francis’s papacy because he is already in his eighties:
- Health issues: As with any other leader in his late eighties, health will be a major concern. Although Pope Francis has proved to be durable—following his touring routine and public appearances—his health will also determine for how long he is an active pope but recently he was hospitalized over his treatment for bronchitis.
- Succession planning: With his hold on the College of Cardinals—having nominated an enormous percentage of them while he was pope—there are speculations regarding what his appointments will have done to shape the future of the Church after-his tenure.
- Influence on church reforms: Pope Francis has introduced some reforms that try to update Church customs and respond to challenges like climate change and social justice. Whether or not such reforms are continued or reversed will largely be determined by his successor.
Pope Francis is standing at the intersection of his life and papacy. At the age of 88 and with nearly twelve years as pope, he is continuing to wrestle with challenging topics in the Catholic Church while he is espousing social justice and stewardship of creation. Amidst the problems of geriatric leadership, his legacy and next step are something on the tongue of Catholics all over the world.
Read more: Where is Mount Denali, the highest mountain in the U.S. that Trump wants to rename Mount McKinley
Read more: Goodbye to war: these are the lands Ukraine must cede to Russia and rare earth sites to the U.S. as a condition for ending…
