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5 photos that show why Pope Francis is already an icon

From posing for a selfie to embracing the sick, Francis has proven he's a pope of the people.  In less than a year at the Vatican, the pope — Time magazine's 2013 Person of the Year — has shaken up many people’s interpretation of the papacy, espousing a more inclusive Catholic Church and often showing his humility through personal example. Here are five amazing photos that demonstrate h
Francis
FrancisUncredited / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pope Francis delivers his blessing as he is driven away on his pope-mobile at the end of his weekly general audience, in St. Peter's Square, at the Va...
Pope Francis delivers a blessing at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Oct. 2, 2013.Andrew Medichini / Today

From posing for a selfie to embracing the sick, Francis has proven he's a pope of the people.  In less than a year at the Vatican, the pope — Time magazine's 2013 Person of the Year — has shaken up many people’s interpretation of the papacy, espousing a more inclusive Catholic Church and often showing his humility through personal example. 

Here are five amazing photos that demonstrate how.

epa03937958 Pope Francis (R) hugs a sick person in Saint Peter's Square at the end of his General Audience in Vatican City, 06 November 2013.  EPA/CLA...
CLAUDIO PERI / Today

The caress

An image as stirring as it is striking, the pope’s embrace of a severely disfigured man soared through social media immediately after the two met on Nov. 6 at St. Peter’s Square. The pope kissed Vinicio Riva, a man usually shunned by strangers, and said a prayer for the man, whose body is covered by tumors from neorofibramatosis.

In this Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, a young boy, no name available, hugs Pope Francis as he ...
Uncredited / Today

A playdate

While Pope Francis delivered a homily to a crowd at the Vatican, a little boy wandered away from a group of children sitting near the stage and confidently stood by the pope, at one point embracing his robes. The pope smiled and patted the tyke’s head, and the Vatican later posted a picture of the boy after he had climbed into the pope’s white chair. 

This handout picture released by the Vatican press office on March 28, 2013 shows Pope Francis (R) kissing the feet of a young offender after washing ...
Today

A clean start

Foot washing is a common Holy Thursday ritual, but Pope Francis became the first pontiff to include two women when he performed the rite. Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of 12 dozen inmates at a juvenile detention center in Rome. The inclusion of two women was viewed as remarkable because the rite represents the final act of humility of Jesus, who washed the feet of his 12 male disciples before his crucifixion.

In this combo picture of a Aug. 28, 2013 file photo provided Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013 by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, left, and a photo ...
Uncredited / Today

@Pontifex

How hip is the pope? Just ask the teen who snapped a selfie with the pope. Pope Francis willingly posed with the young fans, who were in Rome on a pilgrimage. The photograph became an immediate hit on social media, where the pontiff has more than 3.3 million followers on Twitter, @Pontifex.

Pope Francis waves as he leaves after the Palm Sunday mass at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican March 24, 2013. REUTERS/Max Rossi (VATICAN - Tags: R...
MAX ROSSI / Today

A man of the people

No Popemobile for Francis: He made news when he nixed the bulletproof vehicle for a trip earlier this year to Brazil because it prevented him from getting close to the faithful. The pope often uses an open-topped car when he zooms around St. Peter’s Square, symbolizing his effort to connect with ordinary people.