Pope Francis navigated through a challenging yet impactful year in 2023. Despite facing health challenges, including knee pain and respiratory issues, he maintained a rigorous travel schedule, visiting various countries and participating in significant events. The Synod on Synodality held a central place in the year, reflecting the Pope's commitment to fostering a more inclusive and participatory Church. The creation of new cardinals and addressing controversial issues within the Church added complexity to his leadership.

The Argentine pope's determination to address global concerns, such as climate change, and his vision for a more synodal and missionary Church remained evident, shaping his distinctive legacy. Turning 87 on December 17, he held the distinction of being the oldest reigning pope in the past 120 years. Pope Leo XIII, who passed away at the age of 93 in 1903, was the last pope to serve at such an advanced age.

The year 2023 began with the mourning of Pope Benedict XVI, who passed away on December 31, 2022. On January 5, Pope Francis led his predecessor's funeral, deviating from the customary eulogy format dictated by liturgical norms. Instead, he delivered a homily centered around four quotations from Pope Benedict, emphasizing the Gospel in his address.

Health concerns were a recurring theme in Pope Francis' year. Dealing with breathing difficulties, knee pain, and mobility challenges, he faced hospitalizations and a nine-day stay in Rome's Gemelli hospital for hernia surgery in June. The scheduled trip alongside the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury and the moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland was planned for July 2022 but got canceled due to Pope Francis' severe knee pain.

Despite health challenges, Pope Francis maintained his unprecedented pace of papal travel in 2023, undertaking visits to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, Hungary, Mongolia, and France. The Argentine pope engaged in major events such as World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, where he celebrated the gathering of over 1.5 million young people. Reflecting on the event, he emphasized the inclusivity of the Church, proclaiming that there is room for everyone.

With these travels, Pope Francis has a total of 44 papal visits outside of Rome, surpassing the yearly rate of the original "Traveling Pope," St. John Paul II.

However, he canceled a planned trip to Dubai for COP28 due to a bronchial infection. In a message read in Dubai by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis urged world leaders at COP28 to choose life over environmental destruction, declaring it a sin with dire consequences for humanity, especially the vulnerable. His urgency on climate action was echoed in his October release of "Laudate Deum," a follow-up to his 2015 encyclical "Laudato Si', On Care for Our Common Home."

Pope Francis aimed to influence the Church's trajectory beyond his papacy by appointing 21 new cardinals on September 30. This decision expanded the pool of cardinals eligible to participate in a papal conclave to 136, surpassing the traditional limit of 120. With these additions, Pope Francis has now selected 72% of the cardinals who hold the power to vote for his successor, notably increasing the representation from the Global South.

Among the new cardinals appointed in September was Víctor Manuel Fernández, a longstanding theological collaborator and advisor to the Pope. In under six months, 61-year-old Cardinal Fernández delved into a range of contentious issues, with none more pivotal than the discussion surrounding the potential blessing of same-sex couples in non-liturgical settings.

The declaration by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on December 18 was perceived by both critics and proponents as a potential gateway to alterations in Church teachings on sexuality, even though the Vatican maintained that the core doctrine remained unaltered.

Another significant event was the Synod of Bishops on Synodality, where discussions included welcoming gay Catholics. Pope Francis presided over the inaugural session of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican from October 4 to 29. The term "synodality," a novel concept for the Church, signifying "journeying together," has become a central theme during the ten-year pontificate of the Argentine Pope. The three-year Synod on Synodality process stands as the chief mechanism for translating this concept into practical implementation. Pope Francis expressed positivity about the synod's outcomes, envisioning a more synodal and missionary Church that embraces all.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis has strongly criticized the contentious Synodal Way in Germany, asserting in November that it is leading the local Church "further away from the common path of the universal Church." Despite these critiques, the Pope has not taken any corrective actions to intervene.

Pope Francis implemented reforms in the Diocese of Rome and the constitution of Vatican City State. Furthermore, the conclusion of a Vatican trial on December 16 resulted in a substantial prison sentence for Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who faced convictions on multiple charges including fraud, embezzlement, and abuse of office. These developments are expected to contribute to Pope Francis' legacy as a transformative figure within the Catholic Church. Pope Francis also faced intense criticism for what was perceived as preferential treatment toward Father Marko Rupnik, a former Jesuit priest and artist accused of sexually abusing over 20 women. Following significant public outcry over Rupnik's acceptance into a diocese in his native Slovenia, the Pope eventually announced the lifting of the statute of limitations in the Rupnik case.

In a December interview, the Pope revealed his intention to be buried not at St. Peter’s Basilica but at St. Mary Major, situated on the opposite side of Rome. This decision, if realized, would mark the first time a pope has been laid to rest at St. Mary Major since 1669. This choice underscores a pontiff unafraid to bring about change and who is mindful of how he will be remembered.

The Holy Father also acknowledged ongoing health concerns but expressed improvement. He called for prayers for his well-being, emphasizing the importance of collective support for his physical health. The year concluded with Pope Francis looking forward to continued service, expressing hope for a more synodal and missionary Church in the future.