Michael Brooks
The Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, has had several titles throughout history, including Pontifex Maximus, Summus Pontifex, and Servus Servorum Dei. Since 1900, there have been numerous popes, with the most recent one being elected in 2025. The number of popes since 1900 is a subject of some debate, with sources citing different totals. This is partly due to the inclusion or exclusion of popes who died shortly after being elected, as well as the removal of some popes from official lists due to the controversial nature of their rise to the papacy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of Catholic Popes since the beginning | 267 |
| Total number of people who have occupied the position | 265 or 266 |
| First pope from the United States | Robert Francis Prevost |
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What You'll Learn
Pope Francis elected in 2025
Pope Francis, the former pope who died on April 21, 2025, was succeeded by Robert Prevost, a Chicago-born cardinal who took the name Pope Leo XIV. Prevost was elected on May 8, 2025, and became the first pope from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the first non-European pope since the eighth century and the first-ever pope from the Americas. He was elected in March 2013 following the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
On his first day as pope, Francis visited the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he is now buried. He broke with expected protocol by paying his hotel bill and riding back with the cardinals who had just been elected.
There have been 267 popes, according to the Annuario Pontificio (Pontifical Yearbook), though some sources quote a number of 268, including Stephen II, who died before his episcopal consecration.
The new pope, Robert Prevost, took the name Leo XIV, referencing Leo XIII and his foundational encyclical on social teaching. This suggests continuity with the church's direction under Pope Francis.
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Pope Benedict XVI's resignation in 2013
There have been 267 popes, according to the Annuario Pontificio (Pontifical Yearbook). Some sources quote a number of 268, with the inclusion of Pope-elect Stephen II, who died four days after his election.
One of the 267 popes, Pope Benedict XVI, resigned on 28 February 2013. He was the first pope to resign in almost 600 years, since Pope Gregory XII was forced to resign in 1415 to end the Western Schism. Benedict XVI's resignation was also the first voluntary resignation since Pope Celestine V resigned in 1294.
On 11 February 2013, Benedict XVI announced his intention to resign, citing declining health due to old age. He noted that his decision was made "in full freedom", as required by canon law. The physical and mental demands of the papacy may have been too much for the more reserved Benedict XVI. He also declared that he would continue to serve the Church through a life dedicated to prayer and meditation.
Benedict XVI's resignation sent shock waves around the world, and attention quickly shifted to the succession and the election of the new Pope, Francis. The conclave to select his successor began on 12 March 2013. On the morning of his resignation announcement, Benedict XVI presided over his final public mass, a service for Ash Wednesday. On 17 February 2013, Benedict, speaking in Spanish, requested prayers for himself and the new pope from the crowd in St. Peter's Square. On 24 February, he delivered his final Angelus, and on 27 February, he held his final public audience. At 16:15 local time on his final day as pope, Benedict boarded a helicopter to Castel Gandolfo, where he addressed the masses from the balcony for the last time as pope. At exactly 20:00 CET, the see of Rome became vacant.
After his resignation, Benedict took up residence in the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo, where the Swiss Guard served as his personal bodyguard. He later moved permanently to Vatican City's Mater Ecclesiae, a monastery previously used by nuns, on 2 May 2013. He lived there until his death on 31 December 2022.
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Pope John Paul II's 27-year reign
There have been six Catholic popes since 1900. These are:
- Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922)
- Pope Pius XI (1922-1939)
- Pope Pius XII (1939-1958)
- Pope John XXIII (1958-1963)
- Pope Paul VI (1963-1978)
- Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II (1978-2005)
Pope John Paul II served as the Pope of the Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005. During his 27-year reign, John Paul II made journeys to 129 countries, travelling more than 1,100,000 kilometres. He consistently attracted large crowds, some of the largest ever assembled in human history. For instance, the Manila World Youth Day in 1995 gathered up to four million people, the largest papal gathering ever, according to the Vatican.
John Paul II was the first reigning pope to travel to several countries, including Mexico and Ireland, in a single year, starting in 1979. He was also the first pope to visit the White House in October 1979, where he was warmly greeted by President Jimmy Carter. In 1982, he became the first reigning pope to travel to the United Kingdom, where he met Queen Elizabeth II, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
John Paul II's work to maintain the dignity of mankind against what he saw as the dangers of modern life, coupled with his personal magnetism, made him one of the most remarkable men of his time. He was also known for his fight against dictatorships and communist rule in his native Poland and the rest of Europe. Under his leadership, the Catholic Church expanded its influence in Africa and Latin America and retained its influence in Europe and the rest of the world.
In his later years, John Paul II suffered from ill health, including Parkinson's disease, and he moved with difficulty and tired easily. Despite this, he continued his journeys, visiting Cuba, Nigeria, former Yugoslav republics, and the Holy Land. He made an emotional final visit to his homeland in 2002, flying over his birthplace and visiting the graves of his parents and brother.
John Paul II was declared a saint in 2014, alongside Pope John XXIII. He is referred to by some Catholics as Pope St. John Paul II the Great.
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Pope John Paul I's short reign
There have been a total of 11 Catholic popes since 1900, including the current pope, Francis. Now, here is an account of Pope John Paul I's short reign.
Pope John Paul I, born Albino Luciani, had an exceptionally brief pontificate, lasting only 33 days in the year 1978. Despite his short tenure, he is often remembered as "The Smiling Pope" due to his friendly and approachable demeanor. John Paul I was born in Italy in 1912 and served as a bishop and cardinal before his unexpected election to the papacy on August 26, 1978.
His predecessor, Pope Paul VI, had implemented significant changes during his pontificate, and many expected John Paul I to continue these reforms. John Paul I was the first pope to choose a double-barreled name, honoring his two immediate predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI. He also chose to be inaugurated without the traditional papal coronation, opting for a simpler Mass instead. This set a precedent that his successors would follow.
During his short reign, John Paul I focused on issues of poverty and social inequality. He had a particular concern for the poor and disadvantaged, and one of his first acts as pope was to donate a substantial sum of money to a fund for victims of natural disasters. He also planned to reorganize the Vatican administration and had a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, intending to emphasize her role in the Church.
However, his sudden death on September 28, 1978, brought his plans and initiatives to an abrupt end. The cause of his death was attributed to a heart attack, but various conspiracy theories persist due to certain inconsistencies in the official story. John Paul I's death and brief papacy added to the tumultuous nature of 1978, which saw three popes in a single year. His legacy is one of simplicity, kindness, and a commitment to the needy, leaving a lasting impression despite his short time as pope.
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Pope Pius XII's controversial legacy
Since 1900, there have been 14 Catholic popes, including the current pope, Pope Francis. One of them, Pope Pius XII, served as pope from 1939 to 1958. He was born Eugenio Pacelli in Rome, Italy, on March 2, 1876, and died on October 9, 1958, in Castel Gandolfo.
Pope Pius XII's legacy remains controversial due to his alleged ""public silence" and contradictory policies during World War II. Critics accuse him of failing to speak out against the Holocaust and the abuses of Nazi, fascist, and Soviet regimes. They claim that he remained silent about the millions of civilian victims of Nazism, including Jews, Poles, Serbs, Russians, and others. Some works, such as Rolf Hochhuth's controversial drama "The Deputy, a Christian tragedy," portray Pope Pius XII as a hypocrite who was silent about the Holocaust.
However, Pius XII's defenders argue that he worked to aid Jews during the war. Pinchas Lapide, a Jewish theologian and Israeli diplomat, estimated that Pius "was instrumental in saving at least 700,000 but probably as many as 860,000 Jews from certain death at Nazi hands." In August 1944, following the Liberation of Rome, Pius met with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Additionally, defenders point to Pius's denunciations of racism and defense of Jewish converts as evidence of his opposition to antisemitism.
The controversy surrounding Pope Pius XII's legacy has resulted in critical and supportive literature, with authors taking different positions on his role during World War II. In 1999, John Cornwell's "Hitler's Pope" was highly critical of Pius, arguing that he was a practicing Catholic who failed to absolve the Pope with his work. In contrast, Vincent Lapomarda, a Jesuit historian, criticized the positions of those who attacked Pope Pius XII as "outrageous."
The debate also extends to the role of nuncio Angelo Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, in rescuing Jews during the war. While some claim that Roncalli was acting on the orders of Pius XII, others argue that he was acting independently. The cause for Pius XII's beatification has stalled, with Pope Francis stating that there were no miracles attributed to his intercession.
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Frequently asked questions
There have been 17 Catholic popes since 1900.
The first pope of the 20th century was Pope Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903.
Pope John Paul I served for only 33 days in 1978 before dying of a heart attack.
