TIME: Pope Francis
His was a papacy of firsts. Succeeding Pope Benedict XVI, the first pope to resign in more than 600 years, Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from the Americas. He was also the first to take the name Francis, in honor of Francis of Assisi—an advocate for the poor—and Francis himself lived humbly. Upon becoming pope, he moved into the Vatican guesthouse instead of the papal apartments. He carried his own suitcase, took the bus, and used a small car. Yet the 266th pope was also among the boldest of pontiffs, willing to both speak candidly and challenge church orthodoxy. He focused the world's attention on the climate emergency, on the migrant crisis, and what he called the joy of the gospel. In this commemorative issue, TIME celebrates the head of the Catholic church, known as the people's pope, from his boyhood in Argentina to his peacemaking travels around the world. The collectible edition includes rare images from inside the Vatican, inspiring pictures of the pope's interaction with the faithful, and the moving story of how he lived by example, dedicating his life to improve the lives of others.
