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December 12, 2013

Time Magazine Names Pope Francis "Person of the Year" 
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Pope Francis has been named Time Magazine's "Person of the Year."
Francis has captured global attention for his criticism of capitalism,
his softer tone on key social issues including abortion and
homosexuality, and his calls to re-focus the Church towards the needs of
the poor. Time Managing Editor Nancy Gibbs said the pontiff was chosen
"for pulling the papacy out of the palace and into the streets, for
committing the world’s largest church to confronting its deepest needs
and for balancing judgment with mercy." A Vatican spokesperson reacted
to the honor on Wednesday.

Father Federico Lombardi: "The Pope does not look for success or honors,
but if the declaration of the pope as Man of the Year means that many
people have understood the message of the love of God for all, that the
pope spreads in the world that is a very important message for all, then
this is good news and the pope can be happy."

Pope Francis beat out four runners-up: NSA leaker Edward Snowden, gay
rights activist Edith Windsor, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, and Syrian
President Bashar Assad.