A Century of Popes: Champions, Controversies, and Change in the Catholic Church

Pope Francis, at 88 years old, is currently in the hospital battling bilateral pneumonia—a diagnosis that has Catholics everywhere holding their breath and crossing themselves a few extra times. According to the Vatican, he’ll remain under care for now. Recent updates say he even managed to get out of bed for breakfast on his seventh day in the hospital—a small victory, but when you’re the Pope, every move is headline material.

The past century has seen popes guiding the Catholic Church through everything from world wars to sweeping modern reforms. Let’s take a look at the men who wore the white cassock and steered a billion-strong flock through times of faith, fear, and transformation.

Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger in Bavaria, Germany, led from 2005 to 2013. His early life was marked by the horrors of the Nazi regime—his family suffered under the party’s oppression, and by law, he was forced to join the Hitler Youth at 14. Drafted during World War II and later held as a prisoner of war by Americans, Ratzinger eventually returned to his true calling, being ordained in 1951 alongside his brother. As pope, he preached love and fidelity, but in 2013, citing health concerns, he did something no pontiff had done in six centuries: he resigned. Benedict died in 2022 at the age of 95.

Pope John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyła, became the first Polish pope in 1978—and the first non-Italian in over 400 years. Only 58 when elected, he was one of the youngest popes ever. John Paul II’s papacy was epic—he traveled to 129 countries (that’s some serious frequent flyer miles) and championed peace, service, and the sanctity of life. In 1981, he survived an assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square, later visiting and forgiving his would-be killer in a move that stunned the world. He died in 2005 at 84, and was canonized as a saint in 2014.

Pope John Paul I, born Albino Luciani, served the shortest papacy in modern times—just 33 days in 1978 before his sudden death. Known as "the Smiling Pope," his warmth left an impression, even in his brief tenure.

Pope Paul VI, born Giovanni Battista Montini in Brescia, Italy, was elected in 1963. He guided the Church through the final sessions of the Second Vatican Council, which brought important reforms and condemned antisemitism. Paul VI traveled widely and was canonized in 2018. He died in 1978 at 80, remembered for his push to strengthen interfaith relations.

Pope John XXIII, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was born into a large Italian family and ordained in 1904. As pope, he convened the Second Vatican Council, which modernized church liturgy and theology and opened new dialogues with other faiths. He died of cancer in 1963 and became a saint alongside John Paul II in 2014.

Pope Pius XII, Eugenio Pacelli, became pope in 1939, just as World War II broke out. His papacy remains controversial; documents show he was informed about the Holocaust early on, and while he received pleas to help Jewish communities, critics say he didn’t do enough. The Vatican, however, has always defended his actions. He died in 1958 at 82.

Pope Pius XI, Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was elected in 1922, just as Mussolini came to power in Italy. The Lateran Treaty he signed with Mussolini established Vatican City as a sovereign state, giving the Pope political independence. Pius XI died in 1939 at 81.

From war-torn Europe to the jet age, these popes have been at the center of history, controversy, and faith. And if you think being pope is just about leading prayers, try surviving world wars, political upheaval, and the occasional assassination attempt—while keeping your hat on straight.