Pope Francis greets the crowds in St Peter's Square after his election as Pope in 2013
CNS, Paul Haring
Few predicted a long pontificate for Pope Francis. He thought he had four or five years. Yet on 22 January 2021, he will have been in office for the same period as his predecessor, Benedict XVI, whose papacy ended on 28 February 2013 after 7 years, 10 months and 9 days.
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