International News

St. Francis’ Pontificate By the Numbers

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In just five years as leader of the universal church, Pope Francis has made 22 international trips, traveling 154,906 miles – the equivalent of six times around the world.

He also has declared 880 new saints, which includes the martyrdom of an estimated 800 Italian laymen killed by Ottoman soldiers in the 15th century.
Those numbers and more were released by the Vatican, detailing the many papal events, documents, travels and accomplishments the past five years. The numbers, released March 17, cover the period from March 19, 2013 – the solemnity of St. Joseph, the day officially inaugurating the start of his pontificate – to March 19, 2018.

According to the Vatican statistics, the 81-year-old pope has also created 61 new cardinals; led 219 general audiences, with catechetical series that include reflections on the sacraments, the church, the family, mercy and the Mass; and issued 41 major documents, including the encyclicals “Lumen fidei” and “Laudato Si’.”