Calling him "The People’s Pope," Time magazine on Wednesday named Pope Francis its Person of the Year.

 

"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, Pope Francis is Time’s 2013 Person of the Year," Time said in its announcement.

 

Time’s other 10 finalists were a mixed crew: President Obama, NSA leaker Edward Snowden, Syria President Bashar Assad, Iran President Hassan Rouhani, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, gay rights activist Edith Windsor — and singer Miley Cyrus. [Link]