By Catholic Review Staff
The first Jesuit and the first from the Americas to be elected pope, Pope Francis has continued to have an eventful first year as the leader of an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics.
See a timeline and photos of Pope Francis’ eventful first year below:
2013
March 13
Elected pope, the first to take name “Francis”
From the moment Pope Francis, dressed simply in a white cassock, stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time and bowed March 13, 2013, he signaled his pontificate would bring some style differences to the papacy. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
March 29
Washes the feet of 12 juvenile detention center detainees, including at least two Muslims and two women
Pope Francis washes the foot of a prison inmate during the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Rome’s Casal del Marmo prison for minors March 28. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)
June 29
Releases encyclical “Lumen fidei”
This English edition of “Lumen Fidei” (“The Light of Faith”), the first encyclical from Pope Francis, is published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. (CNS photo/courtesy of USCCB)
July 28
Celebrates Mass in Rio de Janeiro for 3 million at World Youth Day
Cardinals stand beside the altar as Pope Francis celebrates the closing Mass of World Youth Day on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro July 28. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
July 29
Addresses journalists on plane to Rome, gives “Who am I to judge?” response
Pope Francis addresses journalists on his flight from Rio de Janeiro to Rome July 28. The pope spent 80 minutes answering questions from 21 journalists on the plane. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Sept. 30
Candid interview published by America Magazine
Nov. 24
Releases apostolic exhortation “Evangelii gaudium”
A copy of the apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”) by Pope Francis is seen during a news conference at the Vatican Nov. 26. In his first extensive piece of writing as pope, Pope Francis lays out a vision of the Catholic Church dedicated to evangelization, with a focus on society’s poorest and most vulnerable, including the aged and unborn. (CNS photo/Alessandro Bianchi, Reuters)
Dec. 11
The cover of Time magazine’s Person of the Year issue, featuring Pope Francis, is pictured in this Dec. 11 handout photo. (CNS photo/Time Inc., handout via Reuters)
2014
Jan. 28
On Rolling Stone’s cover
Feb. 26
Creates new cardinals in first joint liturgy with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Retired Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis are pictured seconds after meeting each other during a consistory at which Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 22. Pope Benedict’s presence at the ceremony marked th e first time he had joined Pope Francis for a public liturgy. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
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