Time Magazine has named Pope Francis its 2013 Person of the Year, following a year in which the leader of the Catholic Church distinguished himself as not only a vocal pro-life advocate but a compassionate one.The decision makes sense, as Pope Francis has already been suggested as a possible Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
“With a focus on compassion, the leader of the Catholic Church has become a new voice of conscience,” the magazine said. “Once there was a boy so meek and modest, he was awarded a Most Humble badge. The next day, it was taken away because he wore it. Here endeth the lesson.”
“How do you practice humility from the most exalted throne on earth? Rarely has a new player on the world stage captured so much attention so quickly—young and old, faithful and cynical—as has Pope Francis. 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,” Time added.
About the issue of abortion, even Time is captivated by Pope Francis’ approach.
“When he rejects the pomp and the privilege, releases information on Vatican finances for the first time, reprimands a profligate German Archbishop, cold-calls strangers in distress, offers to baptize the baby of a divorced woman whose married lover wanted her to abort it, he is doing more than modeling mercy and transparency,” it said. “He is embracing complexity and acknowledging the risk that a church obsessed with its own rights and righteousness could inflict more wounds than it heals.”
At the same time, Time claims Pope Francis isn’t talk about abortion much — ignoring how just the other day he condemned abortion as part of the world’s “throwaway culture.”
Lamenting the “throwaway culture” the world lives in now, Pope Francis said, “The victims of such a culture are precisely the weakest and most fragile human beings – the unborn, the poorest people, sick elderly people, gravely disabled people… who are in danger of being ‘thrown out,’ expelled from a machine that must be efficient at all costs.”
Pro-life advocates like LifeNews writer Andrew Bair, of National Right to Life, were excited about the news.
Proud to see such an articulate and dedicated defender of life as TIME’s Person of the Year. Way to go, @Pontifex! #TIMEPOY #prolife
— Andrew A Bair (@ProLifePolitics) December 11, 2013
Meanwhile, on pro-life issues, the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops has produced a new video honoring the pro-life spirit and mission Pope Francis has had thus far since becoming the leader of the Catholic Church. Recently, Pope Francis blessed a disabled man who suffered from growths all over his head and body, the leader of the Catholic Church took the time to bless a severely disfigured man without a face.
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The disabled man who made international headlines after Pope Francis blessed him was greatly appreciative of the Pope taking his time to bless him. Now, Pope Francis paused during his weekly audience to greet another disfigured person, showing his sensitivity to the dignity and worth of human life no matter what physical conditions they face.
Pope Francis stopped to speak to and hug the man who lacked facial features.
