![(Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Pope_Francis_cover-1022x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![The open-topped Popemobile carries Pope Francis through a delighted crowd during a Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p002_003_ng_pope_francis-1880x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![Pope Francis attends a general audience in St. Peter's Square. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p004_ng_pope_francis-836x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![Pope Francis attends a general audience in Vatican City. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p012_013_ng_pope_francis-1880x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![A gate leading to the Vatican Museum frames St. Peter’s Basilica. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p014_015_ng_pope_francis-1880x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![On Christmas Day, one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar, Pope Francis delivers his 2014 “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and to the World”) address and blessing. (Dave Yoder, National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p020_ng_pope_francis-858x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder, National Geographic
![A swirl of pilgrims surround Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p032_033_ng_pope_francis-1880x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![Pope Francis talks with the prefect of the papal household, Archbishop Georg Gänswein. The pontiff’s blue Ford Focus is visible behind him. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p034_ng_pope_francis-1880x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![Pope Francis seems most comfortable when mingling with his flock. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p080_ng_pope_francis-836x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![A composite image of the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica presents the grandeur of Michelangelo’s dome and Bernini’s baldachin, or canopy. A church has stood on this site since the time of the Roman emperor Constantine. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p136_ng_pope_francis-773x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![Holy Mass for the opening of the Extraordinary Synod on the family, presided over by the Holy Father Francis. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p156_157_ng_pope_francis-1880x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![Pope Francis performs a ritual during a ceremony. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p162_ng_pope_francis-836x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![A bird’s-eye view from above St. Peter’s high altar highlights the grandeur of the basilica. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p174_175_ng_pope_francis-1880x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![A saint’s-eye view of St. Peter’s Square gives the perspective from 2 of the 140 statues of saints that line the balustrade above the colonnade. The 82-foot-high Egyptian obelisk can be seen in the square. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p228_229_ng_pope_francis-1880x1254.jpg)
Dave Yoder/National Geographic
![(Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Pope_Francis_cover-260x174.jpg)
![The open-topped Popemobile carries Pope Francis through a delighted crowd during a Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p002_003_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![Pope Francis attends a general audience in St. Peter's Square. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p004_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![Pope Francis attends a general audience in Vatican City. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p012_013_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![A gate leading to the Vatican Museum frames St. Peter’s Basilica. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p014_015_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![On Christmas Day, one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar, Pope Francis delivers his 2014 “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and to the World”) address and blessing. (Dave Yoder, National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p020_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![A swirl of pilgrims surround Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p032_033_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![Pope Francis talks with the prefect of the papal household, Archbishop Georg Gänswein. The pontiff’s blue Ford Focus is visible behind him. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p034_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![Pope Francis seems most comfortable when mingling with his flock. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p080_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![A composite image of the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica presents the grandeur of Michelangelo’s dome and Bernini’s baldachin, or canopy. A church has stood on this site since the time of the Roman emperor Constantine. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p136_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![Holy Mass for the opening of the Extraordinary Synod on the family, presided over by the Holy Father Francis. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p156_157_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![Pope Francis performs a ritual during a ceremony. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p162_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![A bird’s-eye view from above St. Peter’s high altar highlights the grandeur of the basilica. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p174_175_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)
![A saint’s-eye view of St. Peter’s Square gives the perspective from 2 of the 140 statues of saints that line the balustrade above the colonnade. The 82-foot-high Egyptian obelisk can be seen in the square. (Dave Yoder/National Geographic)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p228_229_ng_pope_francis-260x174.jpg)