Anniversary of the pontificate of Pope Francis

Anniversary of the pontificate: 10 years have passed since Pope Francis appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's, striking everyone with his simplicity. His overwhelming, reassuring smile from him. It was March 13, 2013 when, in the fifth ballot, the Conclave chose a cardinal "caught" "almost at the end of the world" as successor to Benedict XVI. As he said, announcing that he had chosen Francis as his name in honor of the Poverello of Assisi.

Since then there have been three encyclicals, five Synods, as many Apostolic Exhortations, 33 international journeys, a myriad of firsts and prophetic gestures. The persistent will to make changes, from the reform of the Curia of Rome, to the commitment to give space to women in places of responsibility. All carried out with profound humility, without ever losing sight of the sense of community. The awareness of being the "servant of the servants of God". Needed to respond to the Lord's call of prayer, of so much prayer. What the Pope asks at the end of every speech, of every meeting, of every greeting.

Born into a family of Piedmontese and Ligurian origins, he is the eldest of five children. At the age of 21, due to a severe form of pneumonia, the upper part of his right lung was removed. In fact, at that time lung diseases such as fungal infections or pneumonia were surgically treated due to the scarcity of antibiotics. This is also why the Vaticanists excluded him from the list of papables during the conclave of his election. To support his studies he did many jobs as well as a bouncer and cleaning. He decides to enter the seminary of Villa Devoto and on 11 March 1958 he began his novitiate in the Society of Jesus, spending a period in Chile and later returning to Buenos Aires, to graduate in philosophy in 1963.

Pope Francis: Anniversary of the pontificate

Since 1964 he has been teaching literature and psychology for three years in the colleges of Santa Fe and Buenos Aires. He received his priestly ordination on 13 December 1969 with the laying on of hands by the archbishop of Córdoba Ramón José Castellano. There are numerous events that have always seen him on the side of the least, a philosophy that Pope Francis continues to this day. A Pope loved by all for his simplicity, his way of exposing himself always very mild meant that they made him unique.

Recently his visit to Iraq, a country tormented by the war for years, a trip strongly desired by the Holy Father. He told reporters that he wanted to deepen what was accomplished in this historic trip to Iraq. From the spiritual encounter with Al Sistani, "wise man of God", to suffering in the face of the rubble of the destroyed churches of Mosul. But also of the genesis of his travels, of women and migrations. No to a next trip to Syria, yes to the promise of a visit to Lebanon. He has transmitted many beautiful things to us and many more he will transmit to us.