The Vatican says Pope Francis drew more than 6.6 million people to his audiences, Masses and other Vatican events in 2013, more than twice as
many as his predecessor Benedict XVI did in
his first year as Pope.
The statistics released on Thursday cover only
events held at the Vatican starting from Francis' March 13 election.
They don't include his trips, including World
Youth Day in Brazil and trips within Italy: The
Vatican estimated that some 3.7 million people
attended Francis' final World Youth Day Mass
in Rio alone, though statisticians put the true figure at about half that.
For comparison's sake, the Vatican reported
that some 2.85 million people attended Vatican
events in Benedict's first year as pope in 2005.
Francis is the first Latin American and first
Jesuit Pope.
many as his predecessor Benedict XVI did in
his first year as Pope.
The statistics released on Thursday cover only
events held at the Vatican starting from Francis' March 13 election.
They don't include his trips, including World
Youth Day in Brazil and trips within Italy: The
Vatican estimated that some 3.7 million people
attended Francis' final World Youth Day Mass
in Rio alone, though statisticians put the true figure at about half that.
For comparison's sake, the Vatican reported
that some 2.85 million people attended Vatican
events in Benedict's first year as pope in 2005.
Francis is the first Latin American and first
Jesuit Pope.
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