Artist Jason Seiler on how he captured Pope Francis for this year’s issue
2013
Ted Cruz, The Barn Burner
In 2013, the audacious upstart shut down the government on a hopeless quest to stop the President’s signature policy. Love him or hate him, he is a vision of the future
Edith Windsor, The Unlikely Activist
In her ninth decade, she started a judicial odyssey, fighting a battle she never expected to wage—let alone win. Now she’s the matriarch of the gay-rights movement
Bashar Assad, The Lethal Tyrant
The doctor turned despot kept his grip on power. Still he sits uneasily on his contaminated throne. As Syria disintegrates, another generation of turbulence awaits
Edward Snowden, The Dark Prophet
He pulled off the year’s most spectacular heist. Exiled from his country, the 30-year-old computer whiz has become the doomsayer of the information age
Pope Francis, The People’s Pope
He took the name of a humble saint and then called for a church of healing. The first non-European pope in 1,200 years is poised to transform a place that measures change by the century
Pope Francis, The Choice
With a focus on compassion, the leader of the Catholic Church has become a new voice of conscience. Managing Editor Nancy Gibbs explains why Francis is TIME’s choice for Person of the Year 2013
Everything You Wanted To Know about TIME’s Person of the Year
TIME’s Deputy Managing Editor Radhika Jones answers your questions about how the choice is made, how editors keep it a secret and why inanimate objects are eligible
The Year in Connections
Every bromance, alliance, breakup and brouhaha that mattered
The Year in Highs and Lows
Who thrived and who took a dive