Time names Pope Francis 2013 "Person of the Year"

Time says Francis has "captured the imagination of millions who had given up on hoping for the church"

Published December 11, 2013 1:27PM (EST)

  (AP/Gregorio Borgia)
(AP/Gregorio Borgia)

Time magazine on Wednesday named Pope Francis its 2013 Person of the Year, calling him "the people's pope" and noting "the speed with which he has captured the imaginations of millions who had given up on hoping for the church," as the reason behind the decision.

The pope beat out Edward Snowden, Ted Cruz and Syrian President Bashar Assad, among others, to take the title.

He is the third pope to be named Time’s Person of the Year.


By Katie McDonough

Katie McDonough is Salon's politics writer, focusing on gender, sexuality and reproductive justice. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com.

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Person Of The Year Pope Francis Time Person Of The Year