Highlights from the new leader of the Catholic Church’s remarkable year.
When the newly elected leader, Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, introduced himself to the world and became the first non-European pope in more than 1,000 years.
When he greeted the world on March 13, the new pope also became the first Jesuit pontiff in history.
AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File
When he became the first pope in history to choose the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi.
In his first address to the media, Pope Francis explained why he chose the name: "For me, he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation."
L'Osservatore Romano / AP
When Argentinians awoke early to watch the inaugural mass of the first South American pope and Pope Francis — the former archbishop of Buenos Aires — called the crowds gathered in the capital city before the service began.
Thousands of people gathered in the city's main square to watch their native son's first mass, scheduled to begin at 5:30 a.m. in Buenos Aires. Two hours before the mass started, a call from Pope Francis was patched through to the speakers set up around the square. The pope blessed the cheering crowds and asked, "Don't forget this bishop, who though far away, cares so much for you."
ENRIQUE MARCARIAN / Reuters
When Pope Francis didn't let the office of the papacy change him after he was elected.
The new pope took the shuttle bus with the other bishops after he was named the new leader of the Catholic Church and went to the hotel where he had been staying during the conclave the day after he was elected to pay his bill. A Vatican spokesman said the pope returned to the hotel to collect his suitcase and paid his bill "as a good example" to the other bishops.
AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, File
