Since he was elected by his fellow cardinals in 2013 to head the Roman Catholic Church, Francis has captivated the public imagination the world over with his down-to-earth demeanor even as he tries to fit a new vision onto the ancient institution he leads.<\/p>\n
He’s bringing that vision to North America with a visit to Cuba beginning Saturday and to the United States on Sept. 22-27. The trip embraces the lofty \u201d\u201d with addresses to Congress and the United Nations \u201d\u201d as well as the lowly \u201d\u201d meetings with homeless people and migrant families. It will be the first time that the 78-year-old pontiff has set foot in the U.S.<\/p>\n
His very lack of flamboyance has, paradoxically, turned him into a spiritual rock star and newsmaker who has graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Time and National Geographic. Rapturous crowds greet Francis worldwide; a million or more people are expected to attend his outdoor Mass in Philadelphia on Sept. 26.<\/p>\n