Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) was pope for just over 12 years, from March 13, 2013, until his death on April 21, 2025.

Quick Scoop: How long was Francis the pope?

  • Elected: March 13, 2013, as the 266th pope after the resignation of Benedict XVI.
  • Papacy ended: April 21, 2025, when he died at age 88.
  • Total duration: A bit more than 12 years on the throne of St. Peter.
  • Historical note: His reign was longer than the modern average papacy length of about 7.5 years and roughly in line with the 12‑year average for recent popes.

If you’re wondering: “how long was Francis the pope?” — the simple answer is around 12 years , from early 2013 to spring 2025.

TL;DR: Pope Francis served as pope from March 13, 2013, to April 21, 2025 — a little over 12 years.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.