MyTV Cebu Feature: Get to know the last 10 popes

International

OVER the past century, the Roman Catholic Church has been shaped and reshaped by a succession of remarkable leaders who brought a distinct vision, leadership style, and response to the challenges of their time.

From the pastoral sensitivity and reformist zeal of Pope Francis to the resolute and diplomatic approach of Pope Pius XII during World War II, the last 10 popes have guided the Church through social, cultural, and theological transformations.

In light of the passing of Pope Francis, MyTV Cebu brings an exploration of the lives, ministries, and lasting legacies of the last ten popes.

Pope Francis (2013–2025)

Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina made history on March 13, 2013, when he became the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first to take the name Francis.

He chose to rename himself as Francis as a symbol of his affinity with St. Francis of Assisi and his mission to serve the poor.

Known for his humility, simplicity, and closeness to the people, Francis is often seen riding public transportation and has chosen to live in a Vatican guesthouse instead of the apostolic palace.

Francis’ papacy has been marked by calls for mercy, inclusivity, and attention to the marginalized. His emphasis on social justice, environmental stewardship, and economic inequality has extended the Church’s mission beyond doctrinal boundaries and into global dialogues on climate, migration, and peace.

Before his election, Francis served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He became a cardinal in 2001 and played a leading role in Latin American Catholicism. Even as a cardinal, he declined ceremonial extravagance, urging instead that funds be redirected to the poor.

Francis’ leadership during crises, including the clergy abuse scandal, the COVID-19 pandemic, and conflicts within and outside the Church, has shown a blend of pragmatism, resilience, and spiritual depth. His vision of a “field hospital” Church continues to shape how Catholicism responds to contemporary wounds.

Francis passed away on April 21, 2025. He was 88.

Pope Benedict XVI (2005–2013)

Joseph Ratzinger, born in 1927 in Bavaria, Germany, brought a deeply intellectual and theological approach to the papacy.

A noted scholar and professor, Benedict XVI’s election on April 19, 2005, followed the death of Pope John Paul II, whom he had long served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

As pope, Benedict worked to strengthen core Catholic beliefs, respond to growing secularism, and connect modern Church practices with its traditions. He promoted respectful worship and encouraged dialogue with other Christian groups and religions.

Benedict XVI shocked the world by becoming the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign from the papacy, citing advanced age and declining strength.

His resignation on February 28, 2013, paved the way for a new era of leadership and marked a moment of humility and self-awareness rarely seen in Church history.

Even in retirement, Benedict remained a quiet presence within the Vatican, continuing to write and pray while refraining from public influence.

He died on December 31, 2022, at the age of 95.

Pope John Paul II (1978–2005)

Karol Józef Wojtyła, the first non-Italian pope in over four centuries, was elected on October 16, 1978.

Born in Wadowice, Poland, on May 18, 1920, John Paul II emerged from personal loss, wartime resistance, and pastoral formation under Nazi and Communist regimes to become one of the most influential popes in modern history.

He studied clandestinely for the priesthood during the Nazi occupation, while working in a quarry and chemical plant to avoid deportation.

After World War II, he was ordained in 1946 and earned a doctorate in theology in Rome before returning to Poland, where he served as parish priest, university chaplain, and professor of moral theology.

Wojtyła was named bishop in 1958, archbishop of Krakow in 1964, and cardinal in 1967. A key contributor to the Second Vatican Council, particularly to the Gaudium et Spes constitution, he was a rising voice in global Catholicism.

When elected pope, he took the name John Paul II, honoring his short-lived predecessor.

His papacy was defined by its extraordinary reach and spiritual vigor. He made 104 international trips, met millions of people, and used his charisma and pastoral zeal to energize the Church worldwide.

He survived an assassination attempt in 1981 and later forgave the gunman, becoming a symbol of mercy and resilience.

He also made history by declaring 482 saints and beatifying over a thousand people, more than any pope before him.

John Paul II died on April 2, 2005, on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday—a feast he himself instituted. Beatified in 2011 and canonized in 2014, he remains one of the most beloved figures in recent Catholic memory.

Pope John Paul I (August–September 1978)

Albino Luciani, elected on August 26, 1978, served as pope for only 33 days—the shortest papacy in modern history.

However, his warmth, humility, and pastoral sincerity left an enduring mark, earning him the affectionate nickname “The Smiling Pope.”

Born on October 17, 1912, in Canale d’Agordo, Italy, Luciani was baptized the same day due to fears for his health.

Over the years, he rose steadily through the Church hierarchy. He was named bishop of Vittorio Veneto in 1958 and became a consistent presence at all sessions of the Second Vatican Council. In 1969, Pope Paul VI appointed him Patriarch of Venice, and in 1973, made him a cardinal.

Elected pope after the death of Paul VI, Luciani was the first to take a double name—John Paul—in tribute to his predecessors.

He declined the traditional papal coronation and emphasized servant leadership in his brief time as pontiff.

His sudden death on September 28, 1978, shocked the world and led to the rapid election of his successor, John Paul II.

In 2017, Pope Francis declared Luciani venerable, and he was beatified in 2022.

PAUL VI (1963–1978)

Born Giovanni Battista Montini on September 26, 1897, in Concesio, Brescia, Paul VI’s life was steeped in diplomacy, pastoral care, and deep intellectual reflection.

Ordained a priest in 1920, he entered Vatican service early, eventually becoming a key aide in the Secretariat of State and playing a vital humanitarian role during World War II, particularly through the Vatican Information Office.

Appointed Archbishop of Milan in 1954, he brought fresh methods of evangelization to a city grappling with industrialization, migration, and ideological strife.

In 1963, following the death of John XXIII, he was elected pope and chose the name Paul VI, signaling a mission-driven papacy.

Known for his humility and seriousness, Paul VI guided the Church through immense transformation.

He died on August 6, 1978, and was canonized by Pope Francis in 2018.

JOHN XXIII (1958–1963)

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, born on November 25, 1881, in Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, emerged from humble roots as the third of thirteen children in a family of sharecroppers.

Ordained in 1904, he was shaped by early pastoral and academic experiences, wartime chaplaincy, and decades of diplomatic service across Europe and the Middle East.

His 1953 appointment as Patriarch of Venice seemed a fitting capstone to a long ecclesial career, until, at age 76, he was unexpectedly elected pope in 1958.

He took the name John, bridging continuity and renewal.

Known fondly as “Good Pope John,” his warmth, humor, and pastoral heart captured the world. But beneath his genial demeanor was a bold vision.

He died on June 3, 1963, but his short pontificate opened a new era in Church history. For many, the world truly felt like it had lost a family member.

He was canonized alongside John Paul II in 2014.

Pius XII (1939–1958)

Pope Pius XII, born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli on March 2, 1876, in Rome, Italy, served as head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1939 until his death in 1958.

Elected pope on his 63rd birthday, March 2, 1939, after a brief conclave, Pius XII took his name in honor of his predecessor, Pius XI. His papacy coincided with some of the most tumultuous events of the 20th century, notably World War II and the Holocaust.

He faced the challenge of guiding the Church through the war’s devastation, the rise of totalitarian regimes, and the postwar geopolitical landscape marked by the Cold War and communism.

Pius XII is remembered for his diplomatic efforts and cautious approach during the war. He issued the encyclical Summi Pontificatus in 1939, condemning war and persecution, and worked behind the scenes to protect Jews and other victims of Nazi oppression.

While criticized by some for his public silence on the Holocaust, recent archival research has revealed his extensive secret efforts to save lives, including sheltering thousands of Jews in Church institutions and Vatican City.

Pope Pius XII died on October 9, 1958, at Castel Gandolfo, aged 82.

Pope Pius XI (1922-1939)

Pope Pius XI, born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti on May 31, 1857, in Desio, Lombardy, then part of the Austrian Empire, was the 259th leader of the Catholic Church and the 11th pope to take the name “Pius”.

He was ordained in 1879. In 1911, Pope Pius X appointed Ratti as Vice-Prefect of the Vatican Library, and by 1914, he became its Prefect. His diplomatic career advanced when he was named papal nuncio to Poland in 1919.

In 1921, Pope Benedict XV made him a cardinal and archbishop of Milan. Ratti was elected pope on February 6, 1922, succeeding Benedict XV.

Pius XI’s papacy was marked by significant historical events and achievements. He became the first sovereign of Vatican City following the Lateran Treaty of 1929, which resolved the longstanding conflict between the papacy and the Italian state.

He canonized and beatified several important saints, established the feast of Christ the King, and encouraged lay participation in the Church, especially through the Catholic Action movement.

Pius XI’s health declined after suffering two heart attacks in late 1938, and he died on February 10, 1939, in the Apostolic Palace in Rome.

Pope Benedict XV (1914 to 1922)

Pope Benedict XV, born Giacomo della Chiesa on November 21, 1854, in Pegli, Kingdom of Sardinia, served as the 259th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1914 to 1922.

His papacy was profoundly shaped by World War I, and he became a key figure in efforts to promote peace during the conflict.

After studying at the University of Genoa and later pursuing priesthood studies in Rome, he entered the papal diplomatic service and served as archbishop of Bologna.

In 1914, just before being elected pope, he was elevated to cardinal.

Elected pope on September 3, 1914, at the onset of World War I, Benedict XV maintained strict neutrality throughout the war.

He tirelessly worked to mediate between warring nations and focused on alleviating the suffering of war victims, founding the Vatican service for prisoners of war.

Despite his peace efforts, including a 1917 "Peace Note" to the warring powers, his attempts at mediation were largely unsuccessful. Recognizing the importance of missionary work, he issued the apostolic letter "Maximum Illud" in 1919, calling for a more evangelical approach to the Church's mission worldwide.

Additionally, his promotion of the Code of Canon Law in 1917 is considered a significant influence on religious life throughout the Church.

Pope Benedict XV passed away on January 22, 1922, from pneumonia. His successor, Pope Pius XI, continued his efforts to promote peace and international relations.

St. Pius X (1903 to 1914)

St. Pius X, born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto in 1835 in Riese, Venetia, served as pope from 1903 to 1914.

He is renowned for his opposition to Modernism, promotion of frequent communion, and contributions to the 1917 Code of Canon Law. Born into a poor family, he entered the seminary at age 15 and was ordained a priest in 1858.

In 1893, Pope Leo XIII made him a cardinal, and in 1903, at the age of 68, he was elected pope, taking the name Pius X.

During his papacy, Pius X was a strong defender of traditional Catholic doctrine and worked tirelessly against Modernism, a movement that sought to modernize Catholic thought.

He reformed the Catholic liturgy, promoted the study of the Bible, and emphasized the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Pius X died in Rome in 1914, just before the outbreak of World War I. He was canonized a saint in 1954 by Pope Pius XII, and his feast day is celebrated on August 21.(TGP)