This week in Christian history: ‘Jesus Revolution’ leader dies, Jan Hus excommunicated

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, March 12, 2023

Pope Francis elected – March 13, 2013

Newly elected Pope Francis appears at the window of his future private apartment to bless the faithful, gathered below in St. Peter's Square, during the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican on March 17, 2013. | Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi

This week marks the anniversary of when 76-year-old Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected head of the Roman Catholic Church, becoming Pope Francis.

The first Latin American to become pope, Francis was elected shortly after Pope Benedict XVI announced he was stepping down from the position, the first pontiff to do so since Pope Gregory XII in 1415.

“Let us pray for one another, let us pray for the whole world, let us have a big brotherhood. This journey for the Church that we will start today, let's open this journey and bear fruits for evangelism,” said Francis at the time.

Since his election 10 years ago, Francis has garnered much controversy for his views on homosexuality, atheism and illegal immigration, as well as mixed reactions over the Catholic Church’s handling of clergy sex abuse under his watch.