Pope Francis is celebrating 12 years of pontificate since March 13, 2013, when he presented himself to the world on the balcony of the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica. He is currently in the hospital recovering from severe respiratory problems, while inevitably scratching his head about the future of the Church.
During his pontificate, the Argentine pope has taken measures to reduce the spending of the cardinals and has created a commission to seek funds due to the decline in donations. He has also placed special emphasis on combating pedophilia in the Church, creating the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and requiring annual reports on progress in the fight against abuse.
Francis has made multiple legislative interventions and eliminated pontifical secrecy in cases of abuse. However, it is noted that not all dioceses have complied with the obligation to create centers for victim support, and in the Vatican, there continues to be a lack of speed and transparency in handling abuse cases.
Administratively, the pope has promoted the reform of the Vatican administration and its ministries, working on the new Constitution "Praedicate Evangelium." He has changed the geographical distribution of the cardinalate, increasing the representation of Asia and Africa and decreasing the presence of European and Italian cardinals.
These changes have generated resistance in ultraconservative sectors of the Church, which could oppose the reforms during the next conclave to elect the new pontiff. Some of Francis' decisions, such as granting blessings to same-sex couples, have been controversial and may influence the election of the next leader of the Church.
Regarding the presence of women in the Church, the pope has promoted their increased participation and appointment in positions of power. Before his hospitalization, he appointed the nun Raffaella Petrini as president of the Governorate of the State of the City of Vatican and Simona Brambilla as prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life, being the first woman to hold these roles.
In economic terms, the total reform of the management of the Vatican's finances carried out by Pope Francis during his 12 years of pontificate is noteworthy. With the creation of the Secretariat for the Economy, greater transparency and control over the funds and properties of the Holy See have been achieved, putting an end to past irregularities and allowing the accounts to be public.
