Pope Francis's Greatest Achievements, Ranked

Since being elected to the Holy See in March 2013, Pope Francis has gone on an unprecedented spree of reform, liberalization, and outreach. In the process, he's accomplished an enormous amount, breaking bureaucratic logjams, increasing accountability, and refocusing the Church's role in ministering to those in need.

What has Pope Francis done? To start, the pontiff has achieved a great deal by living simply, speaking his mind, promoting frugality, and working for peace and justice. While his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, was seen as an ineffectual doctrine enforcer, Francis has tried to do away with or change doctrine that no longer applies to a 21st century Catholic Church. Pope Francis makes the news regularly with his latest reforms and proclamations. He's simplified annulment rules that have been overly complicated for centuries, threatened to shut down the Vatican Bank if it didn't embrace transparency and reform, and moved toward liberalizing the Vatican's stances on homosexuality, the environment, and the economy.

In the process, he's angered many American conservatives, conservative Catholics around the world, and traditionalists who feel he's going too far, too fast. But the reforms continue apace, and likely will for Francis's entire papacy. If you don't know much about Pope Francis, this biography outlines his most controversial achievements, and is the perfect place to learn more about his history, opinions, and ethos. Then you can decide which of Pope Francis's reforms and achievements you think are his best to date.