U.S. Gay Magazine Names Pope Francis 'Person Of The Year'

Pope Francis answers questions on homosexuality aboard a jet on his way home from Brazil, July 29, 2013

Pope Francis has had a repeat of the honour from an unexpected quarter, after he was named Time Magazine's 'person of the year'.

The Advocate, America's oldest gay rights magazine, chose the head of the Catholic Church as the 'single most influential person of 2013 on the lives of LGBT people.'

That's despite the church's longstanding conflict with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community over its opposition to same-sex marriage and to homosexuality more generally.

"While 2013 will be remembered for the work of hundreds in advancing marriage equality, it will also be remembered for the example of one man," wrote the online magazine in announcing its choice.

The pontiff famously said this summer he would not 'judge' homosexuals. Those remarks, the Advocate said, "became a signal to Catholics and the world that the new pope is not like the old pope."

Pope Francis 'has not yet said the Catholic Church supports civil unions' between same-sex couples, but the comments he has made have 'already caused reflection and consternation within his church.'

None of the gay community's disagreements with Catholic clergy - such as over the role of women and contraception - "should lead us to underestimate any pope's capacity for persuading hearts and minds in opening to LGBT people, and not only in the US, but globally,'" the magazine said.