Top 10 Greatest Popes in History

1. Pope John Paul II

   

   Born Karol Józef Wojtyła in Poland, he served as pope from 1978 until 2005. His pontificate included extensive international travel and numerous encyclicals addressing theology, ethics, and human rights. He was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2014.

   A true saint, accumulating more verified miracles than required for canonization (unlike some canonized for political pacification). He's responsible for many conversions to Catholicism in my own circle.

   John Paul II is the reason I am Catholic. I have never known a greater man who experienced Nazi and Soviet occupation and still kept his faith. He was the burning candle in an age of darkness. He saw the good in Western ideas and connected freedom and individuality to Jesus' teachings. His efforts thwarted communism and saved countless people from totalitarianism.

2. Pope Leo I

   Leo I served as pope during the fifth century. He played a key role in shaping Christological doctrine at the Council of Chalcedon. He was later recognized as a Doctor of the Church.

   There was a zodiac sign named after him, I think!

   Did he have an epic meeting with Attila the Hun? Oh, yes.

3. Pope Nicholas II

   Nicholas II served as pope in the mid-eleventh century. He issued reforms governing papal elections, granting a central role to the College of Cardinals. His pontificate strengthened ties between the papacy and reform movements.

4. Pope Leo XIII

   Born Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci, he became pope in 1878. He is known for the encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed labor and social issues. His papacy emphasized engagement with modern intellectual currents.

5. Pope Francis

   

   Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, he became pope in 2013. He is the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to hold the office. His papacy has included administrative reforms and the publication of major encyclicals such as Laudato siʼ.

   I love this guy. He represents everything that Jesus stood for: tolerance, love, goodwill, generosity, and kindness. We need more men like him in times like this.

   Champion of civil rights, wonderfully down to earth, and the first pope in centuries to not only speak out against, but also attack corruption within the church. The man is a living saint and will be remembered as a brilliant, progressive, radical pope who changed Roman Catholicism for the better.

   Pope Francis understands and emphasizes that "Love" is the greatest and must always be above all else.

6. Pope Gregory I

   Gregory I served as pope at the end of the sixth century. He reorganized church administration and promoted missionary activity in Europe. He is traditionally credited with contributions to the development of Gregorian chant.

   Pope Gregory is one of the Doctors of the Church, and he performed a notable miracle.

7. Pope Innocent III

   Innocent III served as pope during the early thirteenth century. He asserted strong papal authority over secular rulers. His reign included the calling of the Fourth Lateran Council.

   One of the most powerful popes ever.

8. Pope Julius II

   

   Born Giuliano della Rovere, he became pope in 1503. His reign is noted for military campaigns to restore papal territories. He also commissioned major artistic works, including projects by Michelangelo.

9. Pope Peter

   

   Peter, also known as Simon Peter, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Catholic tradition identifies him as the first Bishop of Rome and the first pope. He is believed to have been martyred in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero.

   The first and greatest pope. A figurehead chosen while Christ was on earth and one of my favorite saints.

   Peter was the person whom Jesus trusted. He was chosen above all the apostles and was the first pope.

   The one whom Christ chose as His Rock. The Papacy is traced all the way back to him.

10. Pope Pius IX

    

    Pius IX held the papacy longer than any other elected pope. His reign included the declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. He also oversaw the First Vatican Council.

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    Pope Pius XI

    

    Born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti in Desio, Italy, he was elected pope in 1922. His pontificate included negotiating the Lateran Treaty, which established the Vatican City State. He issued encyclicals addressing social order, education, and opposition to totalitarian ideologies.

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    Pope Leo XIV

    

    Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago on September 14, 1955, he was elected the 267th pope on May 8, 2025. He is the first pope born in the United States and the first from the Order of Saint Augustine to lead the Catholic Church. His pontificate has included traditional liturgical addresses and actions on issues such as church finances, peace appeals, and canonizations.

    The first Pope born in the US. He is from Chicago, Illinois.

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13. Pope Benedict XVI

    

    Born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany, he became pope in 2005. He was a prominent theologian and previously served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In 2013, he resigned from the papacy, a rare action in modern history.

    A great man who survived Hitler's youth and was an amazing pope who wrote tons of books. He is probably a future doctor and saint of the church.

    A great man with a strong compassion for purifying the church and focusing the teachings of the church on its roots.

    He issued the encyclical "Summorum Pontificum" to restore the Tridentine Mass.

14. Pope John XXIII

    

    Born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, he was elected pope in 1958. He convened the Second Vatican Council, which brought significant changes to Catholic liturgy and governance. His papacy lasted until his death in 1963.

    Without him, the Catholic Church wouldn't be more open-minded towards society. He was the one who reformed the Catholic Church to be more approachable towards the people.

    He took great steps towards bringing the church up to date and always came across as a very warm and friendly man.

    A great man who reformed the Church.

15. Pope Paul III

    Paul III was born Alessandro Farnese and became pope in 1534. He convened the Council of Trent, initiating the Catholic Counter-Reformation. His reign also included the approval of the Society of Jesus.

16. Pope Pius XII

    

    Born Eugenio Pacelli, he was elected pope in 1939. His pontificate coincided with World War II and its aftermath. He issued numerous encyclicals addressing theology, church governance, and international affairs.

17. Pope Urban II

    Urban II became pope in 1088. He is known for calling the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont in 1095. His papacy sought to strengthen church authority and reform clerical practices.

    A person that deserves a higher spot on this list. The Crusades are an important part of the history of the Middle Ages, and a very misunderstood and unfairly vilified one. Thanks to Urban II, the march of the infidels was stopped.

    He literally saved us from the Muslims during the Crusades. Even though he is misunderstood, he still deserves to be on the list because it took courage to tell the knights to fight.

    The Pope who initiated the Crusades.

18. Pope Sixtus IV

    

    Born Francesco della Rovere, he was elected pope in 1471. His pontificate included major building projects in Rome, most notably the Sistine Chapel. He was also involved in complex political alliances among Italian states.

    GOAT status. Eucharistic Prayer-type deal. Xysti in Latin... pretty impressive. Also a martyr for the faith. What does Francis have on that?

19. Pope Paul VI

    

    Born Giovanni Battista Montini, he became pope in 1963. He oversaw the completion of the Second Vatican Council and implemented its reforms. His pontificate included extensive diplomatic engagement and international travel.

20. Pope John Paul I

    Born Albino Luciani, he was elected pope in August 1978. His papacy lasted thirty-three days, one of the shortest in history. He previously served as Patriarch of Venice.

21. Pope Sixtus V

    Born Felice Peretti, he became pope in 1585. He reorganized the Roman Curia and strengthened papal administration. His tenure included extensive urban planning projects in Rome.

    He was the most powerful of the Reformation popes and effectively sorted out the Papal States.

22. Pope Miltiades

    Miltiades served as pope during the early fourth century. His pontificate coincided with the end of major Roman persecutions of Christians. He received imperial property following the Edict of Milan.

    He was the first Pope to end the persecution against Christianity.

23. Pope Alexander III

    Alexander III became pope in 1159 amid a contested election. He opposed the authority of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I. His papacy concluded with the Peace of Venice in 1177.

    A very underrated pope. He managed to overcome both Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England despite having a schism to deal with. He also modified the papal election process, which is more or less the same today.

24. Pope Pius III

    Born Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, he was elected pope in 1503. His pontificate lasted less than one month. He had previously served as Archbishop of Siena.

25. Pope Paul V

    Paul V was born Camillo Borghese and became pope in 1605. His reign included conflicts with secular authorities over church jurisdiction. He expanded the Vatican Library and supported architectural projects.

    Financed and constructed the Vatican St. Peter's, built the aqueduct that carried water to Trastevere, and protected Galileo from the Inquisition.

26. Pope Sylvester I

    Sylvester I served as pope during the reign of Emperor Constantine I. His pontificate followed the legalization of Christianity in the Roman Empire. He is traditionally associated with early church councils, though he did not attend them personally.

27. Pope Gregory VII

    Born Hildebrand of Sovana, he became pope in 1073. He was a central figure in the Investiture Controversy with secular rulers. His reforms emphasized clerical celibacy and papal authority.