Pope Francis
Pope Francis in Rome on his first day as pontiff Reuters

Many Christians refer to Pope Francis as the "Pope of the New Age" because he has dispelled a lot of myths and tales surrounding faith and the Catholic Church. The Argentinian Pope did not strictly follow tradition, and people loved him for it.

1. Married couples who "lived in sin"

On September 14, 2014, the Pope married couples who have been living together without the celebration of marriage as well as single mothers who found a new partner. He asked to officiate the wedding of 40 couples at the Vatican. The last pope who married couples was John Paul II in 2000.

2. Kissed a disfigured man

In the same way that Jesus Christ showed sympathy to ostracized lepers and diseased individuals, Pope Frances kissed and prayed with a man who was severely disfigured by a disease known as neurofibromatosis. His action in November 2013 was considered by many as saintly, kissing the boils of the sufferer in Saint Peter's Square.

3. Posed for a selfie

Pope Francis also delighted tourists who were visiting Vatican City by taking time to talk to them and forwarding his blessings. The most surprising thing happened when a teenager asked to take a photo with the head of the Catholic Church. The Pope did not hesitate to get closer to the grinning fan to take a selfie together. More selfies and groupies with Pope Francis emerged in the following months on Twitter and other social media networks.

4. Replaced the Throne of Peter

The Throne is located in Clementine Hall and has been the special seat of popes through the centuries. Pope Francis has established himself as one of the most humble popes in history, replacing the grand chair with a simple one. He also cut back on other items such as his apartment and did not prefer to wear the traditional red papal shoes, the golden crucifix and majestic red cape.

5. Apologized for clergy sex abuse

Instead of denying allegations and staying aloof of the issues, Pope Francis expressed his sorrow to the victims of sex abuse and apologized. The Pope pledged that he will not tolerate harm done to a minor, whether by a cleric or not and promised that bishops will be held accountable.