CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell looks back on her exclusive interview with Pope Francis

(CBS, KYMA/KECY) - CBS News' Norah O'Donnell is the only American network television correspondent to interview Pope Francis.

She met with him at the Vatican in May of last year, and following the pope's passing, O'Donnell looked back at her interview with the pontiff.

In her interview with the pope, O'Donnell asked if he likes it when he was called "the People's Pope," to which he responded saying, "The Pope? Of the People? I've always been a pastor...You are a pastor for the people, not for yourself. A pastor has to be for the people."

Pope francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, in 1936, into a family of Italian immigrants.

Bergoglio was on his way to a party when he passed a church and felt compelled to go to confession. It was the moment which led him to the priesthood.

Decades later, he became Archbishop of Buenos Aires with a focus on the poor, and in 2001, Pope Saint John Paul II elevated him to Cardinal.

As pope for 12 years, Francis was known for his humility. He stuck to church doctrine, but extended his hand to those he felt were marginalized, especially migrants and the LGBTQ community.

When asked how he addressed the criticism from conservative bishops in the United States who oppose his efforts to revisit teachings and traditions, Francis said:

"You used an adjective, 'conservative.' That is, conservative is one who clings to something and does not want to see beyond that. It is a suicidal attitude. Because one thing is to take tradition into account, to consider situations from the past, but quite another is to be closed up inside a dogmatic box."

During her interview with Francis, O'Donnell asked the pope what he hopes his legacy will be, with Francis saying, "I never really thought about it. The Church is the legacy, the Church not only through the Pope, but through you, through every Christian, through everyone...Personally, I get on the bandwagon of the Church and its legacy for all."

To watch more of O'Donnell's retrospective, click here.