By Currents News
Twelve years ago reporters stood in St. Peter’s Square and heard that Jorge Bergoglio had been elected as the next pope.
Then Pope Francis appeared on the balcony. People have been asking who he is since – and over the past 12 years, Francis has proven to be a pope full of surprises.
This year, Pope Francis is marking the anniversary of his election from hospital.
As such, Currents News is taking it as a moment to look at how much of a huge impact the pope has had on the papacy and the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis has embraced simplicity, wearing simple black shoes rather than the red papal slippers.
He uses a modest car and lives in a Vatican guest house rather than the papal palace.
The Holy Father has also been an advocate for migrants, even bringing refugee families to Rome on his papal plane.
Before his hospitalization, he sent a strong rebuke to the Trump administration over its immigration deportation policy.
Pope Francis has also appointed the first female leaders of Vatican departments, appointed the first women voting members of a global Vatican assembly, and washed the feet of female prisoners during his papacy.
The pontiff has made repeated efforts for peace, working with other religious leaders and making bold appeals to end conflicts in Africa, Ukraine, and the Middle East.
Finally, the pope has insisted that the Church is open to everyone, including LGBT Catholics.
“If a person is gay and accepts the Lord and has goodwill, well, who am I to judge” he said.
He authorized blessings for same-sex couples and called for the decriminalization of homosexuality.
Lamb has been speaking to those who know Pope Francis very well, and they say that he is a determined character driven by a deep sense of mission.
Despite a serious health crisis, Pope Francis is determined to continue.