Pope Francis will be remembered as the most progressive pontiff in the Catholic Church's history. Over the years, the pope from South America left his mark in unprecedented ways. Pope Francis spoke openly about many issues afflicting the Church and indeed the world, visited countries no pope before him ever visited, met with controversial figures, and made the cover of magazines such as Time and Rolling Stone.
Throughout his papacy, Francis was celebrated for his commitment to humility, social justice, and outreach to marginalized communities. His death marks the conclusion of a significant era in the Catholic Church.
In this gallery, we remember some of the most important firsts by Pope Francis. Click through to get started.