Pope Francis commemorated the 10th anniversary of his election on Monday, March 13, leading Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron to call on Catholics to pray for the pontiff.

“Congratulations to @Pontifex on his 10th anniversary as our Holy Father,” Vigneron said in a March 13 tweet. “Let us faithfully pray for him and his intentions, as he so faithfully prays for us and the Church worldwide in his ministry as Christ's Vicar on earth.”

Francis, also known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected as the 265th successor to St. Peter and became the first pope from the Americas in 2013. He chose the name Francis in tribute to St. Francis of Assisi, according to the Diocese of Grand Rapids. His previous role was as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and he has since been a transformative figure in the papacy. 

A numerical summary of his first decade as pope reveals that he has traveled to 60 countries on 40 trips abroad, appointed 95 cardinals under the age of 80, honored 26 churchmen over the age of 80 in eight consistories and overseen the canonization of 911 new saints. This includes a group of over 800 martyrs and notable figures, such as St. John Paul II, St. John XXIII and St. Paul VI, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). 

The indication that his papacy would diverge from the norm began with his emergence onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on the evening of his election. Instead of donning the traditional red, ermine-trimmed cape, he opted for a more modest attire and bowed as he requested the crowd to pray for God's blessings upon him. In the 10 years since, Francis has continued to be different from those who preceded him.

Francis has made a significant and enduring impact on the Catholic Church through a range of unique actions. These include his choice not to reside in the Apostolic Palace, his inclusion of Vatican employees -- such as trash collectors and gardeners -- in his daily morning Mass, and his criticism of laws that criminalize homosexuality as "unjust," asserting that God loves all people just as they are.

He has also urged Catholic bishops to welcome members of the LGBTQ community into the Church and promoted greater inclusion of women in Church leadership positions, among other initiatives, according to AP News.