By Catherine
Taibi/ The Huffington Post
Pope Francis has been named Time
magazine's Person of the Year for 2013.
Time's managing editor Nancy Gibbs
revealed the magazine's decision on NBC's "Today" Wednesday morning.
Pope Francis, who gained world praise
in 2013, became the first Jesuit pope in March 2013 following the resignation
of Pope Benedict XVI.
Time's managing editor Nancy Gibbs explained the magazine's choice on Wednesday,
calling the Pope "a new voice of conscience."
"In his nine months in office, he
has placed himself at the very center of the central conversations of our time,
about wealth and poverty, fairness and justice, transparency, modernity,
globalization, the role of women, the nature of marriage, the temptations of
power," she said. "When he kisses the face of a disfigured man or
washes the feet of a Muslim woman, the image resonates far beyond the
boundaries of the Catholic Church."
Vatican spokesman Father Federico
Lombardi sent a message from the Vatican on Wednesday, on behalf of the Pope:
"The
Holy Father is not looking to become famous or to receive honors. But if the
choice of Person of Year helps spread the message of the gospel-- a message of
God's love for everyone-- he will certainly be happy about that."
Edward Snowden, who made waves in 2013
with his leak of secret documents about N.S.A. surveillance activities, was the
magazine's second choice. Some criticized Time for not choosing Snowden for the
top slot, saying that the title had gone with a safe, popular decision instead
of the right one. Gay marriage pioneer Edith Windsor, Syrian president Bashar
Al-Assad and senator Ted Cruz rounded out the top 5 slots.
Time said that it was the Pope's
dedication to "humility" and his fight against poverty, among other
things, that solidified its top choice this year.
Earlier in July, the Pope was also
named "Man of the Year" by Vanity Fair Italia.
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