It occurred to me tonight that Pope Francis could conceivably be

[No Vested Interest]

Time Magazine's Man of the Year 2013.
Certainly a contender, with the news and interest his papacy and his words and actions have generated.

What do DUers in this group think?

[NYC_SKP]

1. OK by me. nt

[hrmjustin]

2. that would be an interesting choice.

[JimDandy]

4. Agree.

[vlakitti]

3. I'm 100% for it!

This was a great suggestion and I thank you for thinking of it.

[UrbScotty]

5. Easily. Not even close, in my opinion.

I mean, who else is there?

Fun fact: John XXIII and John Paul II were each Person of the Year one year.

[rug]

6. He's a contender. I'd still like to see a records of accomplishments first.

[No Vested Interest]

7. I don't know that accomplishments are the major criteria.

From Wikipedia (for my own clarity): 'a person, group, idea, or object that "for better or for worse", ...had done the most to influence the events of the year.'
I'll agree that he's still only a contender; there may be another that better fits the profile.

[rug]

8. I recall reading the chief criterion is making news.

Churchill was Man of the Half Century.

[No Vested Interest]

9. Yep. Francis certainly qualifies on that score.

Something new published every week, it seems - washing, hugging, kissing, driving, etc.

[IrishAyes]

10. I'm 100% for it too.

But won't make any real $ bets since that might upset His Holiness!

BTW, as a kid and younger adult, when I knew I'd done something awful, I'd say "How will I ever explain THAT one to the Pope?"

I didn't worry too much about my parents and God, all of whom I felt were nearby and known entities. But the Pope was in Rome, and that was a long way off. So I couldn't be too sure about his reaction, no matter how nice people might say he was. Obviously I was never granted an audience!

[No Vested Interest]

11. Well, what do you think, kids? Are we prescient or not? nt

[rug]

12. Good call!

[UrbScotty]

13. Like I said, I had a hard time figuring out who could even come close.

I wonder if the folks at Time thought the same way? IMO, none of the other finalists have made the news quite like he has, but maybe they thought otherwise.

[No Vested Interest]

15. Edward Snowden was the runner-up

Time representatives have said it was a close call.
Both men were largely unknown one year ago and both have had a large impact on the entire world within the last year.

[Kingofalldems]

14. He shoots. He scores.

Good call.