Pope Francis was 76 years old when he became pope, an elder statesman in a religion struggling to modernize.

Many of the Catholics he counseled were much younger, but he tried to meet them where they were. Often, that meant smiling for a selfie in what became a symbol of his approachable papacy.

Social media posts and endearing stories from parishioners and fans over the years have accrued — a 21st-birthday blessing, a toddler who snatched the pope’s headpiece, a mini-me in a cassock — and become part of his legacy.

At lively appearances and parades that were sometimes compared to the Olympics or a World Cup, people collected the photos. Even priests and papal missionaries were not immune to asking for a picture.

Sometimes, the encounters were quieter, such as that of one artist who was invited to the Vatican to present his work to the pope.

When asked what he made of the selfies, Pope Francis said at a news conference, “I feel like a great-grandfather!”