The man who's taught the world the meaning of humility: He lives in a B&B and makes sandwiches for his guards. Could Francis be the greatest Pope ever?

Question: Who was the most talked about person in the world this year? Answer: Not Justin Bieber, Prince George or even Nelson Mandela, but a small, grey-haired man from Argentina called Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

Known since March 13 as Pope Francis, the spectacle-wearing 77-year-old was 2013’s most discussed human being, according to the Global Language Monitor’s annual survey of the internet.

The accolade lays bare his astounding ability — unique among modern religious leaders — to shape the news agenda and capture hearts and minds with a succession of charismatic speeches and colourful public gestures.

Charismatic: Pictured posing for a 'selfie' inside St Peter's Basilica in March, Pope Francis has seen his popularity and that of the Catholic church soar. He has been named Time magazine's person of the year

Humble: The Pope broke convention by washing the feet of female and Muslim prisoners within weeks of his election, left. Right, he embraced a man with a disfigurement similar to that suffered by 
The Elephant Man

Yesterday, Francis drew a near record crowd estimated at 100,000 to St Peter’s Square in Rome to hear a Christmas address where he called for ‘a better world, free from conflict’.

More than two million people have flocked to such audiences since his election — four times the number his predecessor Pope Benedict drew in total in 2012.

Affection: Pope Francis kisses a baby during one of his first audiences in St Peter's Square in March

The Pope walked from his home this week to visit sick youngsters at the Bambin Gesu children's hospital

Meanwhile, some Conservative Catholics regard his informal style as disrespectful to the office of 
God’s Vicar.