When the white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on March 13, 2013, the world held its breath. Most people were expecting a younger, perhaps more energetic "manager" to take over the Vatican after Benedict XVI’s shocking resignation. Instead, out walked Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Honestly, he looked as surprised as everyone else.
But what age did pope francis become pope exactly?
He was 76 years old.
To put that in perspective, he was just two years younger than Benedict XVI was when he was elected, which is wild considering Benedict cited "advanced age" and declining strength as the reasons he had to step down. People thought the Cardinals would go for a "spring chicken" in their 60s. Nope. They went with a man who had already submitted his retirement papers as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was basically ready to settle into a quiet life of prayer and soccer matches.
The Number That Surprised the World
At 76, Francis wasn't the oldest pope ever elected—Clement XII was 79 and Benedict XVI was 78—but he was certainly up there. It’s a stage of life where most people are worrying about their hip replacements, not trying to lead 1.2 billion people.
Why does this number matter?
Because the Church was in a bit of a crisis. There were leaks, financial scandals, and a general feeling that the bureaucracy was a mess. Usually, when an organization is "failing," the board of directors (or the College of Cardinals, in this case) looks for a young disruptor. Instead, they chose a 76-year-old Jesuit who lived in a simple apartment and cooked his own meals.
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What Really Happened Inside the Conclave
You’ve gotta understand that Bergoglio wasn't the frontrunner. Not really.
Names like Angelo Scola of Italy or Marc Ouellet of Canada were the ones the "Vatican experts" were betting on. Bergoglio had actually come in second during the 2005 conclave that elected Ratzinger, but by 2013, most people figured his window had closed. He was "too old."
Then something shifted.
During the pre-conclave meetings, Bergoglio gave a short, powerful speech about the Church needing to go to the "peripheries." It was basically a "less talk, more action" manifesto. The Cardinals were hooked. He won on the fifth ballot with a massive majority, reportedly getting way more than the 77 votes needed.
A Quick Breakdown of the 2013 Election
- Date of Election: March 13, 2013
- Age at Election: 76 years, 86 days
- Birth Date: December 17, 1936
- Ballot Count: He won on the 5th ballot
Why 76 Was the "Magic Number"
Sometimes, age brings a specific kind of fearlessness. When you're 76, you aren't trying to build a career anymore. You're just trying to do the job.
Francis immediately broke tradition. He refused the fancy gold cross. He skipped the papal limousine to ride the bus with the other Cardinals. He even went back to his hotel to pay his own bill. These weren't just PR stunts; they were the actions of a man who had spent decades seeing the reality of poverty in Argentina and didn't have time for the "royal" trappings of the papacy.
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Misconceptions About His Health at 76
There was a lot of chatter when he was elected about his health. You might have heard the rumor that he only has one lung.
That’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s rooted in truth. When he was 21, he had a severe case of pneumonia and three cysts. Back then, they didn't have the same antibiotics we have now, so surgeons removed the upper part of his right lung to save his life.
Fast forward to him becoming pope at 76, and people were worried he wouldn't last five years.
Well, it's 2026 now.
Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. He served for 12 years, outlasting many of the "younger" candidates who were passed over in that 2013 conclave. He proved that being 76 isn't the end of the road; sometimes, it’s just the beginning of a very long, very exhausting second act.
The Legacy of a "Late Bloomer"
When we look back at the age pope francis became pope, we see a turning point. He wasn't a placeholder. He released Laudato si' on the environment, overhauled Vatican finances (as much as anyone can, anyway), and shifted the conversation toward mercy rather than just rules.
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He was the first Jesuit. The first from the Americas. The first Francis.
And he did all of it while most people his age were comfortably retired.
Key Lessons from the 76-Year-Old Pontiff
If there's any takeaway from Bergoglio's election, it's that "readiness" isn't always about youth.
- Experience trumps energy: The Cardinals wanted someone who had governed a massive, complex diocese (Buenos Aires) through political and economic turmoil.
- Character over charisma: While he ended up being very charismatic, it was his reputation for personal holiness and simplicity that won the vote.
- The "Grandfather" Factor: Francis often spoke about the importance of the elderly. His own papacy was a living testament to the idea that the "wisdom of the grandparents" is essential for the future.
If you're looking into the history of the papacy or preparing for a presentation on modern Church history, keep that number—76—in your pocket. It’s the age when a man who thought his work was done was told it was actually just starting.
To dig deeper into this era of history, you should look into the specific reforms of the Roman Curia that Francis initiated in his first three years. Comparing his early decrees to those of his successor, Leo XIV, provides a clear picture of how much the Vatican changed under his leadership. You might also want to research the "Sankt Gallen Group," a circle of liberal-leaning clerics who were said to have supported his candidacy behind the scenes, as it adds a whole other layer of intrigue to the 2013 conclave story.