Pope Francis turns 85

                 
Today, December 17, 2021, Pope Francis celebrates his 85th birthday: an advanced age for a pontiff — in fact, only 11 of the 266 popes have reached this milestone. The oldest pope in history is, since September 4, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (2005-2013). Born 94 years and 245 days ago, the Bavarian is now ahead of the former “dean” of the papal necropolis under St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIII (1879-1903), who died at 93 years and 140 days after a pontificate of a quarter century. But we celebrate with Pope Francis today as he reaches this milestone. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936 as Jorge Bergoglio, he was elected Pope on March 13, 2013.

The oldest popes in history are:

Benedict XVI: 93 years and 245 days (current)
Leo XIII: 93 years and 140 days
Gregory XII: 92 years old
Celestine III: 91 years old
John XXII: 90 years old
Lucius III: 88 years
Clement XII : 87 years and 305 days
Clement X : 86 years and 9 days
Celestine V : 86 years
Pius IX : 85 years and 107 days
Innocent XII : 85 years and 107 days
Francis : 85 years (in progress)

Happy Birthday Pope Francis!