Time Pope Francis: The People's Pope
Francis’s Common Touch • The 266th pope had a profound understanding of the bonds that humans share, which allowed him to emulate Christ’s mercy.
The People’s Pope • Francis, who humbly said, “My people are poor, and I am one of them,” refused to move into the Apostolic Palace, had his shoes fixed by a cobbler, and opened the doors of the Vatican to homeless followers.
Roots of a Papacy • Jorge Mario Bergoglio learned compassion from his grandmother and discipline from the Jesuits.
Francis, a Different Kind of Pope • When Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elevated to pontiff, he chose the name of a humble saint and called for a church of healing. The first non-European pope in 1,200 years promised to transform a place that measured change by the century. He was TIME’s 2013 Person of the Year.
Nonna Rosa • Bergoglio was deeply influenced by his paternal grandmother, Rosa, a pioneer in Catholic social teaching in Italy and Argentina.
The Life of a Jesuit • St. Ignatius Loyola and his foot soldiers were known as independent-minded and tough, which sometimes caused them to clash with the Vatican.
A Legacy of 2,000 Years • The Vatican, seat of the Catholic Church, started as a basilica built over St. Peter’s grave in Rome in the fourth century. It was established as a sovereign nation in 1929.
The Papal Influencers • Pontiffs, saints, anti-popes, and more.
The Global Flock • With 1.3 billion believers, the fast-growing Catholic Church is the world’s largest Christian denomination.
Popes Who Changed History • Only 266 men have served as pontiff over the past 2000 years, making the group one of humankind’s most elite. Of those 266, a handful stand out for their actions—both positive and negative—impacting Catholic followers and people of all faiths around the globe.
Inside the Papal Kingdom • Vatican City is a tiny city-state rich in power, history, faith, beauty, and mystery.
In the Vatican • Francis set the tone for his papacy during his first offcial appearance when, rather than blessing the people in St. Peter’s Square, he asked the people to bless him.
His Social Mission • Francis’s commitment to the poor was born in the slums of Buenos Aires.
Redefining the Papacy • From the start, Francis made it clear in a thousand little ways that the church was getting a man who was humble, accessible, modest, and pastoral.
His Words • Francis’s 2013 apostolistic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, urged the church toward preaching the gospel. Here, an excerpt.
Prioritizing the Planet • How Pope Francis changed the course of climate action.
His Words • Francis championed the environment in his 2015 exhortation, Laudato Si ’. Here, an excerpt.
A Wider Lens on the World • While Francis battled poverty during his papacy, he also brought about change in other areas.
A Global Instrument of Peace • During Francis’s time as pope, he traveled extensively, using the trips to discourage intercommunal violence, promote interfaith harmony, and bring climate issues to the fore.
TIME Pope Francis: The People’s Pope
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