Pope Francis named Time magazine's Person of the Year

Pope Francis has been named Person of the Year by Time for the "strength of the symbolism" of his actions, the magazine's editor-at-large has said.

Catherine Mayer told BBC News that in the nine months in the role, he had made an "extraordinary change" to the institution of the Catholic church and beyond, with his focus on the world's poor.

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was runner up, with US gay rights activist Edith Windsor, US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also finalists.