10 Years of Pope Francis’s Pontificate

Pope Francis was elected in the evening of 13 March 2013, in the fifth ballot of the conclave. The tenth anniversary of his election is an opportunity to pray more for him and to revisit some of the highlights of his pontificate.

13 March 2023 is the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s election (photo: UNIV 2016)
13 March 2023 is the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s election (photo: UNIV 2016)

Love for the Pope is an essential part of St. Josemaria’s teaching. “Love for the Roman Pontiff,” he said, “must be in us a delightful passion, for in him we see Christ” (In Love with the Church, 13). The faithful of Opus Dei pray for the Pope every day in the Preces of the Work: may the Lord preserve him, and grant him life, and make him holy on earth, and not deliver him into the hands of his enemies.

Prayer for the Pope

The Digital Synod has launched a map of virtual candles representing the prayers of the faithful around the world for Pope Francis. The map will be given to the Holy Father on 13 March.

This past 17 December, on his birthday, we published an e-book entitled “Unity and Love for the Good Shepherd.” Christian unity is a participation in the unity of love among the Persons of the Blessed Trinity. On earth, this unity of love is realized through affective and effective union with the Roman Pontiff. In Opus Dei, as part of the Church, it is also expressed through filiation with the Prelate.

Pope Francis’s teachings

This page contains digital versions of the encyclicals Fratelli tutti, Laudato si’, and Lumen Fidei, as well as many of his apostolic exhortations and catechetical cycles. We publish the text of his weekly general audiences on our homepage every Wednesday.