Pope Francis Becomes One of the Oldest Popes in History

A controversial Synod, five apostolic journeys, ten years of pontificate: the current Successor of Peter has not been idle, even appearing to move forward with more vigor during the last 12 months, in this pontificate—one that is atypical in many aspects and out of the ordinary.

Born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires into a family of Italian origin, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope on March 13, 2013, a first for a cardinal from Latin America. At the age of 87, the Argentinian Pontiff has become the second oldest Pope in recent history, surpassed only by Pope Leo XIII.

“In contemporary history, from 1870 to the present day—that is to say, from Pius IX to Francis—Leo XIII is the oldest pope, having died at 93, while the youngest is Benedict XV, having died at 67. During this period, the popes died on average at the age 81, for a pontificate lasting an average of about 15 years,” explains Christophe Dickès, a specialist in papal history.

Indeed the Pontifical Yearbook mentions the case of Pope St. Agatho, who died at more than 100 years old: but the precise date of this Pontiff’s birth is lost in the mist of the Middle Ages and his age is not known with certainty.

In addition to a monumental birthday cake that he shared with families who came to meet him on December 17, Pope Francis received a first birthday present of a particular kind: the day before, the criminal court of the Vatican gave its verdict in the Secretariat of State’s embezzlement case.

But the second took the whole world by surprise: the publication of the Declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples—and it has not finished shaking the Church. With the complicity of Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, this text will cause significant turmoil.

An Increasingly Contested Pope

“His health is declining. He is a tired man, but he is of sound mind. He is more in control than ever. The attacks against him are more virulent and come from all sides; we also feel a generalized weariness,” several Vatican sources confide to AFP (Agence France Presse), evoking the “divisive” personality of the 266^th Pope of the Catholic Church.

Increasingly internally contested by a style of governing deemed too personal, the diplomatic approach does not seem to please the first Jesuit Pope any longer: “we have a little difficulty with diplomacy at the Holy See, sometimes interfered with by initiatives or poorly prepared words of the Pope, and which limit his capacity to play a mediation role,” the same sources add.

If health problems do not trouble the Pope too much in the coming months—Francis was hospitalized in June for nine days and recently had to cancel his trip to Dubai due to respiratory problems—the year 2024 will be marked by the final stage of the controversial Synod on the future of the Church.